Ferhadija Mosque, Sarajevo

Ferhadija Mosque is a central building in the city of Sarajevo built by Bosnian  governor Ferhad-Beg Vuković. This mosque has one dome above the prayer area, and three small domes at the cloister.

It is one of the greatest achievements of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ottoman as well as Islamic architecture. This mosque reflects the full maturity of the classical Ottoman style-domed mosque, portico with small domes, and beautiful built-on minaret.

Research works on the painted decoration inside the mosque carried out in the 1964-1965 revealed five painted layers dating from various periods. The oldest decorations of the first layer date from 16th century. 

The next layers, actually on the calottes, that is central part of the mihra, and surface of the dome consists of purely floral decorations with the features of 18th century style. The third and fourth layers date from the late 19th century, and the first quarter of the 20th.

The mosque was damaged during the Bosnian War in 1992-1995.