The Djami of Yakovali Hassan Pasha and the Minaret - Pecs, Hungary

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Pécs was occupied by the Turks from 1543 to 1686, and consequently the present image of the city is still determined by architectural memories from the Turkish era. One of the monuments that survived in the best condition and keep original condition the most is the djami and minaret of Yakovali Hassan Pasha. From the describes of the Turkish world traveller and historian, Evila Celebi we know that the Djami oriented towards Mecca was built by Yakovali Hassan Pasha in the second half of the 16th century. A special feature of the church is the dodecagon-base tower of approximately 30 metres height built next to it. The north-western part of the Djami was originally enriched by a four-column atrium that was dismantled in the 18th century. The minaret was only saved by its function as a bell-tower at that time. The minaret was built from carved stones, its footing of more than 6 metres height is closed by a finely worked shelf. In the part beneath the shelf there is a series of blind arcades, above it the truncated cone shaped part of the building from which the tower, ornamented with gently carved hollows, grows out. The thin tower is 14.5 metres high, in the inside there are 87 stairs leading to the circular balcony. The iron-fenced balcony at a height of 22.5 metres used to be ornamented by a stone fence. The balcony was glittering from oil lamps on religious holidays. The Djami was converted into a chapel in 1714, and the bishop of Pécs of the time consecrated that to the honour of St. John of Nepomuk. In the 1960s the reconstruction of the Djami was started, during which the Baroque ornamentation of the interior was removed. The original 16th century shape was regained by 1975. Due to the reconstruction works, the ornamented prayer niche, the mihrab was put back to where it belonged, and now it shows the direction of prayers. Right to the prayer niche we find the staged pulpits called the mimber. This carved piece of art is the supplement of the original pulpits made of stone. The walls of the church are ornamented by contemporary wall paintings, decorations and quotes from the Quran in Arabic letters. The Djami that now operates as a house of prayer has an interior consisting of authentic Turkish historical and arts memories which are donations by the Government of Turkey.