Description of the attraction
The Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is the second most popular attraction in Mostar. It is located on the very bank of the Neretva, the main river of Herzegovina, and its minaret looks very picturesque against the backdrop of coastal greenery and eastern-type houses.
The mosque was built in 1617 by order of the Turkish governor Koski Mehmed Pasha. It was named after him.
For the beginning of the 17th century, the technology of building a mosque was revolutionary. The main hall was built with a single roof that does not rest on columns. This innovation immediately made the building an unrivaled example of Islamic architecture in Herzegovina. In the following centuries, a madrasah building was added to the mosque, turning it into a Muslim cultural center.
Subsequent wars damaged the beautiful old building more than once. Each time, both the mosque and the minaret were restored to their original form. Rebuilt once again after the Balkan War, in 2005 the mosque was recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today it is open to tourists. It is one of the few religious Islamic institutions where women are allowed not to cover their faces. Because tourists who want to admire this wonderful example of Muslim architecture are already accustomed here. The courtyard is very beautiful, where a garden is laid out and the constant ritual fountain for ablutions gurgles. And from the platform of the minaret the best view of the Old Bridge opens. Photos are especially good in the evening, when the bridge looks golden in the rays of the setting sun.
And if the Old Bridge is not photographed from a height, then almost all the photos in the background will capture the graceful minaret of the Koski Mehmed Pasha mosque.
