Hawzah News Agency - (Izmir - Turkey) - Historical mosques in the district of Tire in Izmir province on the Aegean coast of Turkey, which was founded about 5,000 years ago and named after the word "three" in the Indo-European languages, takes its visitors to the principalities.

Notable for its buildings exhibiting examples of interaction between different cultures, the district was previously home to the Hittite, Phrygian, Lydian, Persian, Roman and Byzantine states. However, it came under the domination of Turks with the Aydınoğulları principality in the 13th century and was seized by in 1426, gaining many works of city life under the rule of the Muslims. Among the buildings constructed by the Muslim rulers, their mosques particularly stand out.

50 historical mosques

The centuries-old houses of worship, which have survived despite a number of natural disasters and wars, have regained their former appearance after restoration work in the district.

A total of 50 out of 56 mosques in the city's center and the open-air public market held every Tuesday hearken to the principalities. The most important of them is the Yoğurtluoğlu Complex, also known as "Yavukluoğlu.” The complex, consisting of a mosque, observatory, almshouse, madrassa, şadırvan (water tank with a fountain) and cemetery, was reopened for worship in 2005 after major restoration work. The Yoğurtluoğlu Complex, where important scientists and statesmen were once trained, stands out as one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture.

Another historic structure in the district is the Yeşil Imaret Mosque, known as the "Yahşi Bey Mosque" among the public. Ordered by Halil Yahşi Bey, the first bey of the new Aydın Sanjak, in the 15th century, the mosque is important as a structure on which the first examples of the half-dome design was tried in Anatolia.

Tire’s Yeni Mosque, built during the period of Sultan Selim II, is the only mosque made of cut stones in the district. The mosque, an outstanding example of the Classical Age. features Gureba Hospital, the first independent hospital, in its garden.

The Yalınayak Mosque, consisting of a şadırvan, madrassa and bathhouse, was ordered by Hasan Çavuş, the son of Grand Vizier Ferhat Pasha. The architecture of the complex was designed by Mimar Sinan, the chief .architect. The plane tree in the courtyard supports the idea that there is always a plane tree in front of mosques, zawiyas (a small Islamic monastery), madrassas and bathhouses in Tire.

The mosques of Kara Kadı Necmettin, Lütfi Pasha, Kadızade, Mehmet Pasha and Hafsa Hatun are other notable mosques in the district. The ancestral mosques in Tire help the district achieve its goal of having a larger share of the Aegean tourism.