Karađoz-Begova Džamija

This mosque (Karađoz-Begova Džamija) is the most imposing in Herzegovina. It is located on the left bank, 500 m north of the Old Bridge or 150 m northwest of the Biscević house. The building was erected in 1557-1558 thanks to a donation from Mehmed-Bey Karađoz (c. 1500-1564), a Bosnian notable from Mostar who supervised the start of the Old Bridge construction site and financed numerous buildings. Its designer could be Mimar Sinan (c. 1488-1589), the greatest Ottoman architect. Damaged during the Second World War and in 1993-1994, the mosque was restored in 2004. Flanked by a 35.50 m-high minaret, it takes the form of a 13 m-sided cube topped by a drum dome 16.5 m high and 10.7 m in diameter. The entrance is protected by an imposing three-domed porch. All roofs are covered in lead. The prayer room is open to visitors during the day, except during the main prayer (around 12:30-13:30 in summer, 11:30-12:30 in winter). It features calligraphy, engravings and paintings from the ^17th, ^18th and ^19th centuries. In the courtyard, the medersa (Koranic school) was also financed by Mehmed-Bey Karađoz. Of note, opposite the mosque, is the red-brick türbe (mausoleum) of local poet and writer Osman Đikić (1978-1912). His name is inscribed in Cyrillic, because although Bosnian, he was a Serbian nationalist, supporting the idea of a federation bringing together Orthodox and Muslims. The türbe was blown up by Bosnian-Croats in 1993 and rebuilt after the war.