Mustafa Pasha Mosque

The Mustafa Pasha Mosque, built in 1492 by the grand vizier of Sultan Beyazid II, is one of the finest Ottoman mosques in the Balkans and the most important religious building in Skopje. It stands within the Old Bazaar at the foot of the fortress hill, with a single minaret, a dome, and a portico of five arches that opens onto a courtyard with a fountain and a marble tomb.

The interior is surprisingly restrained for an Ottoman imperial mosque: the dome is plain white, the mihrab and minbar simple. The floor is covered with carpets; shoes must be removed at the door. The mosque is an active place of worship — dress appropriately and time your visit between prayer times. The courtyard, with its ancient trees and the sound of the fountain, is one of the calmest spots in the city.

things to do sight architecture
A story
The mosque was completed in 1492 — the same year Columbus reached the Americas — and has survived five centuries, two major earthquakes, and a period of communist rule when it was converted into a museum. It was returned to Islamic use after Macedonian independence and restored. The tomb of Mustafa Pasha's daughter, who died young, stands in the courtyard.