Silent Beauty of Mosques: Calligraphy, Courtyards and Freshness from Istanbul to Ankara

For a long time, I like to get to know cities not only by their streets, parks or views, but also by their quiet stops. Sometimes, while walking in a city, a person's path falls into a mosque and at that moment, you suddenly leave the crowd of the city and enter a completely different atmosphere. For me, mosques eat exactly like this. Special places where I find peace and enjoy watching their architecture for a long time.

Actually, I don't want to talk only about mosques in this post. I want to talk about the fine workmanship on the mosques, the calligraphy on the walls, the spaciousness that high ceilings give people and the unique atmosphere of the courtyards. Because when I enter a mosque, one of the first things that catches my attention is that it is not just its size. Sometimes the calligraphy on a wall, sometimes the fine decorations around the mihrab, sometimes the light filtering in through the windows makes people think for a long time.

There are different mosques from Istanbul and Ankara in these photos. I visited mosques with different spirits such as Teşvikiye Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque and Yeralti Mosque in Istanbul. In Ankara, I spent time around the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque, saw Melike Hatun Mosque and experienced a very beautiful mosque atmosphere on the Bilkent side. Each of them had a different atmosphere, but they all had a common feeling: freshness, calmness and aesthetics.

One of my favorite things about mosques is that there is no building divided in layers inside. The fact that the ceiling is very high gives a person an incredible feeling of spaciousness. In daily life, we often live in closed spaces, small rooms, narrow corridors. But when you enter a mosque, when you raise your head, that height, that dome, that emptiness opens a bigger space for you to breathe. That's why the interior of mosques always gives me a sense of freedom. It is as if the human soul expands a little.

I experienced this feeling stronger, especially in large buildings such as Süleymaniye Mosque. It is already very impressive from the outside, but when you enter, when that large dome, chandelier, windows and large floor come together, you just want to stop for a while. Without talking, without haste, just watching... I love it in mosques. Sometimes I sit in a corner and watch around. People worship, some pray quietly, some travel as tourists, some just rest. But everyone meets in the calm of the same place.

Calligraphy is a special beauty for me. The writings we see on the walls of the mosques, around the dome, at the entrances or in the mihrab section are not just an ornament. They are also an art that completes the spirit of space. The curve of the letters, golden details, sometimes writings written on a dark green background, sometimes simple but strong lines on white marble... All of them attract attention separately. When I look at these writings, I like to think not only about the letters, but also about how that writing makes sense in the building.

In some mosques, calligraphy appears very clearly and strongly. For example, in one of the photos, the big writings around the mihrab looks very impressive with lighting and decorations. It seems that not only architecture, but also light, writing and color have come together there. Gold details, white surfaces and thin patterns make the interior of the mosque look very elegant. In such places, people inevitably want to take pictures, but they also want to stop for a while and see that beauty with their eyes before taking pictures.

Courtyards are also one of the most beautiful parts of mosques for me. Especially in Istanbul, the courtyards of large mosques are very lively. Tourists take pictures, those who come for worship enter the mosque, some people wait at the fountain, some sit in the shade. The courtyard is like a transition area between the outside world and the inner world of the mosque. The sound of the city is still heard, but the calmness of the mosque is slowly starting to be felt.

The Hacı Bayram-ı Veli neighborhood in Ankara also left a very beautiful mark on me. When a mosque, a mausoleum, people, birds and historical atmosphere come together there, a very special feeling is formed. The area where the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Tomb is located affects people not only with its architecture but also with its spiritual atmosphere. Time seems to flow a little slower there. People want to pray and watch around.

The writing and history information at the entrance of the Underground Mosque was one of the details that caught my attention. In the light of the night, those writings became more pronounced. The writing "Yeralti Mosque" gives a very strong feeling of introduction with its Hijri and Gregorian histories. Sometimes you start to feel the past of a building even before entering the door. For me, this is one of the best parts of city trips. A building does not only consist of stone, door and wall. It carries time, effort, faith and memories.

Teşvikiye Mosque, on the other hand, shows a different side of Istanbul. It has its own calmness in the busy life of the city, despite the activity around it. Mosques in Istanbul are not only on the historical peninsula; they appear in different districts, with different spirits. This makes the city richer. Not every mosque feels the same. Some are very magnificent, some are simpler, some are very crowded, some are quieter. But in each of them, it is possible for a person to find a corner of his own.

In modern mosques in Ankara, a cleaner, wider and orderly architecture caught my attention. Marble surfaces, large arches, bright courtyards and high ceilings create a very spacious view. Especially light-colored stones and large spaces make the inside and outside of the mosque look very bright. Even walking in such places is good for people.

When I visit mosques, I see it not only as a place of worship, but also as a city memory. Because mosques also show the past of cities, the understanding of art, human relations and daily life. When you look at the people sitting in the courtyard of a mosque, you actually see a small summary of the city. Tourists, the elderly, children, worshipers, photographers... Everyone is in the same place, but the reason why everyone is there is a little different.

That's why I like to go to mosques. Sometimes to find peace, sometimes to look at the architecture, sometimes just to breathe a little under the high ceilings. Watching calligraphy, domes, chandeliers, courtyards and light is very good for me.

This sharing was like a small but very meaningful journey between Istanbul and Ankara for me. Thanks to the mosques, I had the opportunity to see the cities from a quieter place. Sometimes to understand a city, it is necessary to go to the quietest corners, not the most crowded squares. Mosques are one of those quiet and beautiful corners for me.