Member of:
Language:
Sofia
Banya Bashi Mosque
The Banya Bashi Mosque was built in 1576 as a part of a larger complex around the mineral baths (as you might know the Thracians settled in Sofia due to its abundance of mineral springs).
The dome of this brick building has a diameter of 15 metres, and the building is the only remaining model of a domed roof on a cubic base in Bulgaria. The greatest of all Ottoman architects, Mimar Sinan, who was a chief architect of the Sultan, built the present day Banya Bashi Mosque. The Sultan Selim Mosque in Edirne and the Blue mosque in Istanbul, Turkey are also among his works.
The Banya Bashi Mosque is the one working mosque in Sofia. The interior is decorated with fine calligraphy, citing texts from the Koran /Holy Book for the Muslims/, as the images of human figures are prohibited in Islamic art. In fact, because of its style and architecture we naturally infer that it is a typical monument of the Ottoman architecture which adds a different nuance to the colourful Sofia city centre. What is notable for the mosque is the domed ceiling, which was restored to its original design, after the fall of Communism. There are loudspeakers installed on the minaret calling the Muslim minority to pray five times a day.
Please, take into account that the mosque is not officially opened as a tourist landmark, but visitors are also welcome outside the prayer times /women to be modestly dressed/
Banya Bashi means literally ‘a lot of baths’ and its name was derived from the neighbouring Central Baths.
Next to the Banya Bashi there are thermal springs, and there are even taps where you can drink fresh mineral water for free.
Banya Bashi Mosque on the map of Sofia
Other religious buildings in Sofia
Hotels in Sofia
- Anel Hotel
- Arena di Serdika boutique hotel
- Grand Hotel Sofia
- Hilton Sofia Hotel
- Holiday Inn hotel
- Kempinski-Zografski Hotel
- Radisson Blu Grand Hotel
- Sheraton Hotel
- Apartment house “Bulgaria”
- Art 'Otel
- Berlin Park Vitosha
- Best Western Hotel Europe
- Best Western Hotel Expo
- Best Western Plus City Hotel
- Best Western Premier Thracia Hotel
- Central Park Hotel
- Crystal Palace Hotel
- Downtown Hotel
- Festa Sofia Hotel
- Geneva Hotel
- Gloria Palace Hotel
- Hill Hotel
- Hotel Central Forum
- Hotel City Avenue
- Kolikovski Boutique Hotel
- Les Fleurs Hotel
- Maria Luisa Hotel
- Maxi Park Hotel & Spa
- Metropolitan hotel
- Park Inn Sofia by Radisson
- Rodina Hotel
- Silver House Hotel
- Sofia Plaza Hotel
- Sofia Princess Hotel
- Sofia Residence
- Sveta Sofia Hotel
- Triada Hotel
- Tsarsko Selo
- VEGA Hotel Sofia
- Vitosha Hotel
- 6aTo
- Accord Hotel
- Aris Hotel
- Arte Hotel
- Atlantic Hotel
- Best Western Plus Bristol
- Brod Hotel
- Budapest hotel
- Bulgari Boutique Hotel
- California Hotel
- Diplomat Holiday Village
- Diter Hotel
- Earth and People hotel
- Hemus Hotel
- Hotel Alabin Central
- Latinka Hotel
- Legends hotel
- Lion Hotel
- Losenets Hotel
- Maxim Hotel
- Meg-Lozenets Hotel
- Montecito Hotel
- Park Hotel Moskva
- Renaissance Hotel
- Scotty’s Boutique Hotel
- Simona hotel
- Slavyanska Beseda Hotel
- Sofia Place Hotel
- Villa Ekaterina
- Medic Hotel
Places to go in Sofia
- St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
- Boyana Church
- National Museum of History
- Alexander Nevsky Crypt Icon museum
- Vitosha Nature Park
- “Ivan Vazov” National Theatre
- The St. Petka Samardjiska Church /St. Petka of the Saddlers/
- Borisova Gradina Park (Central Park)
- Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art
- St. George Rotunda-the oldest Eastern European Orthodox church
- Bulgarian National Gallery of Arts
- National Archaeological Museum
- Fountains in Sofia
- Public gardens and green areas
- St. Sofia church- ancient Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia
- St. Nikolay Russian church
- Sofia botanical garden
- Church of the Holy Seven
- Sofia Zoo
- Bulgarian Natural History Museum
- Sofia City Art Gallery
- Pancharevo lake
- Ethnographic Museum
- St. Nedelya church
- Museum of Earth and Man
- Sofia University Botanic Garden
- Cathedral of St Joseph
- Independence Square
- Boyana waterfall
- Alexander Nevski Square
- King Alexander Battenberg Square
- National Assembly's building in Sofia
- Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard
- Vitosha Boulevard
- St. Paraskeva Church
- Eagle's Bridge
- Atanas Burov Square
- St. 40 Martyrs Church
- Oborishte street
- Rila monastery
- Slaveikov square
- National Palace of Culture
- National Library St. St. Cyril and Metodius
- Banya Bashi Mosque
- Jewish synagogue in Sofia
- Lion's bridge
- Law Courts
Deals & discounts in Sofia
News from Sofia
- Bulgaria’s National history museum included in the EU project “Museums present Europe”
- International Festival of the Masquerade Games in Pernik town, Bulgaria
- Ice Bar in Sofia city
- Burgas, Varna, Sofia – included in 100 Global Cities Destination Ranking
- Bulgaria is a top family destination 2013, announced by Virgin money
- Skiing in Vitosha mountain
- Sofia hotels in top 10 capital cities worldwide
- Festival “Skiing and snowboarding in the city” is held in Sofia
- Days of challenges in Sofia city
- Bon Jovi visits Bulgaria in 2013
- No restored ski equipment at Vitosha Mountain
- New cultural and historic route Sveta Gora
- International kids folklore festival in Sofia city
- Low cost flights from Sofia airport to Budapest
- Ski competition at Vetrovala in Vitosha Mountain today
- 16th International Sofia Movie festival
- Sofia is the cheapest holiday destination in Europe
- Christmas traditions will be presented in Ethnographic museum in Sofia
- Central Mineral bath in Sofia becomes a museum and SPA centre
- Sofia is the cheapest holiday destination in Europe
- 3 Airline Carriers Stop Winter Flights to Sofia
- A growth of 6,6% of passengers at Sofia airport
- Tourist information centre opened at Sofia Airport
- Gipsy Kings performance is postponed
- French Movie Festival in Sofia city
Touroperator
