Ulu Camii 🇹🇷

Welcome to Ulu Camii, the 12th-century Grand Mosque of Urfa located on Divan Caddesi. Built on the site of an earlier Christian church—possibly dedicated to St. Stephen—this congregational mosque blends deep historical layers with intriguing architectural features. As you enter, you will step into an unusually elongated north-south courtyard that is slightly elevated and shaded by cypress trees surrounding two peaceful cemetery areas.

The main prayer hall sits on the south side of the complex, featuring a north face fronted by a portico with cross-vaulted ceilings and irregularly spaced columns. Inside, three long east-west aisles are separated by low, thick columns supporting cross-vaulted ceilings, with an off-center mihrab and dome. To the southeast, you will discover a late 1700s medrese, now functioning as a school, complete with its own mini-courtyard and a fountain bearing a 1191 Ayyubid inscription. Standing at the northeast corner, the 12th-century minaret rises as a tall, eight-sided tower featuring small vertical windows and large top-floor windows.

Atop its roof rests a cube-shaped addition crowned by a lead cupola with clocks on each face. Deep beneath the prayer hall, an underground corridor hints at connections to ancient cellars or catacombs.

What to see at Ulu Camii

• Distinctive 12th-century eight-sided minaret featuring top-floor windows and a clock-faced cupola
• Main prayer hall with three long cross-vaulted aisles and an off-center mihrab
• Elongated, elevated courtyard with ancient masonry walls and shaded cemetery areas
• Late 18th-century medrese with a fountain featuring an authentic 1191 Ayyubid inscription
• Fascinating subterranean corridor discovered beneath the prayer hall floor

Visiting tips

Look at the fountain in the southeast medrese corner to read the historic 1191 inscription from the Ayyubid era.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Ulu Camii is easy to reach on Şanlıurfa’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Edessa. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Şanlıurfa travel guide.