Karadjoz-Beg Mosque, Mostar

The Karadjoz-Beg Mosque of Mostar is an Ottoman mosque dating from the 16th century. It has an oversized dome and a high minaret for a mosque of its size. It is reputed to be the largest mosque in the Mostar region. It was built in 1557 on the remains of the Church of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

The Arabic foundation inscription on the cornerstone declares the mosque was commissioned by Mehmed Beg bin Abu al-Sadat, thought to have been the brother of the vizier. The grand vizier at that time was Rustem Pasha. His only brother went by the name Sinan Pasha. Not many things are written in stone.

The Mosque design is believed to be the work of Mimar Sinan, the foremost imperial architect of the time. The basic form is a domed cube with a double portico. The inner portico has three smaller domes supported by four marble columns. The outer portico roof has small octagonal pillars.

The 35-foot main dome covers an eight-sided drum-like structure having windows and pointed arches. The mosque suffered severe damage in World War II and again in the 1993 Bosnian War. It was completely renovated and reopened in July 2004.