Harran Ulu Camii

Have you ever wanted to touch a colossal historical puzzle that stretches back hundreds of years? Located in Şanlıurfa, the Harran Ulu Camii is exactly such a place! Known also as the “Paradise Mosque,” this structure tells us thrilling stories from very ancient times. Let us embark together on a journey into this magical world of stone!

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The Harran Ulu Camii was built approximately 1300 years ago during the Umayyad period by Caliph Marwan II. At that time Harran was a capital city, and thus a grand mosque was constructed here. However, this beautiful mosque suffered a major attack around 800 years ago and was destroyed. Yet it did not give up: its eastern walls, its square minaret, and its rich decorations have survived to this day.

This mosque holds many of Türkiye’s “firsts” and “mosts.” For example, it is the first large monumental mosque built in Anatolia and is known as Türkiye’s mosque with the richest stone decorations. As you admire the plant and geometric patterns on its walls, you may feel as if you are in an art gallery. It has another remarkable feature: the Harran Ulu Camii has exactly 25 doors, making it Türkiye’s mosque with the most doors. In its courtyard stands an octagonal şadırvan used for rest and ablutions.

The mosque’s minaret differs from many minarets we see today because it has a square cross-section rather than a circular one. Thanks to major restoration and excavation work in recent years, the pathways inside the mosque have been restored and it has been reopened to visitors, especially children interested in history. Now you can see these ancient remnants much more closely.