Busy Mosque in Old Nicosia
Located at the western end of Arasta Street in the Iplik Pazar district, this mosque has been constructed with cut stones on a platform above road level.
Also known as the Fethiye, until recent times it was one of the most frequented mosques by tradesmen of the nearby markets in Nicosia.
The current mosque stands on the site of a previous smaller masjid. The congregational area is L-shaped, with a wooden ceiling. The gallery supported by wooden columns with ornamented capitals is designated for women.
To the north, its facade consists of six tapered arches on circular columns and to the west four further tapered arches.
Above the doorway is an inscription detailing that the earlier mosque was demolished and built by Seyit Mehmet Emin Agha, Ottoman governor of Cyprus in 1825. In addition to the mosque the governor also restored the Fethiye Children’s School next door after which it was given the name “Mekteb-I Irfan” or School of Enlightenment.