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The Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia’s only active mosque, has stood for nearly five centuries as a key Ottoman-era landmark and remains a central place of worship for the city’s Muslim community.
Built between 1566 and 1567 by Ottoman statesman Kadi Seyfullah Efendi, the mosque features a single dome and slender minaret in classical Ottoman architectural style.
Sofia Regional Mufti Beyhan Mehmed, speaking to Anadolu Agency, said the mosque is one of the most valuable structures to have survived following the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). He recalled that 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi described the mosque as “one of the most beautiful in the city,” underlining its longstanding importance as a religious center for Sofia’s Muslim community.
Mehmed added that the mosque’s capacity is often insufficient for the congregation, particularly during Friday prayers and Eid, when worshippers spill into the surrounding outdoor areas.
The mosque’s name originates from the Turkish phrase meaning “at the head of the bath,” a reference to the bathhouses that once surrounded it. “For this reason, the mosque is commonly known as the Banya Bashi Mosque,” Mehmed explained.
He also noted that the mosque once stood amid bathhouses, markets, and the tomb of Kadi Seyfullah Efendi, which was destroyed after the Russo-Turkish War and has not survived to the present day.
Although there is no definitive evidence, Mehmed highlighted that historians and locals often associate the mosque with the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, noting similarities with Istanbul’s Rüstem Pasha Mosque and Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque.
He also explained that the mosque includes a tetimme section at the back with small domes, currently used as an imam’s office or for Quran classes.
Mehmed said the mosque has undergone several restorations over the years, with the most comprehensive carried out by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency between 2012 and 2017. “The restoration was very thorough and returned the mosque to its original state,” he said.
The mosque operates under Bulgaria’s Chief Mufti’s Office and is protected under national cultural heritage laws.
During Ramadan, Mehmed added, around 350 people gather each evening for iftar meals, which are open to anyone in need. “The strong participation every evening brings us great happiness,” he said.
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