Shehzade Korkut Mosque

Shehzade Korkut Mosque, also known as the Kesik Minaret or Broken Minaret, stands in Antalya’s Old Town. Its walls preserve traces of a building that served as a temple, a church and a mosque, and glass floor panels reveal ruins beneath the carpeted prayer area. After a fire destroyed the mosque in the 19th century, the site was restored and reopened for worship in 2021, the first prayers there in 126 years. Visit to see the layered history and, if appropriate, pray inside.

A site shaped by changing faiths

The building has served as a temple, a church and a mosque. Its earlier history includes a Byzantine church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. When the Seljuk Turks took Antalya in the 13th century, the church became a mosque and a minaret was added. The site later changed hands and use again: after Peter I of Cyprus took Antalya in 1361, it became a church.

During the rule of Şehzade Korkut, son of Sultan Bayezid II, the building became a mosque once more. It continued as a place of worship until a fire in the 19th century destroyed it. The surviving complex preserves parts of earlier buildings, including remains that date back to the 2nd century AD. The names Korkut Mosque and Kesik Minaret refer to the mosque and its truncated minaret.

Ruins beneath the prayer area

Glass panels in the floor give you a view of ruins and artifacts below the carpeted area. They make the layers of the site visible while the mosque remains a place for prayer. The minaret is among the best-preserved parts of the complex.

The mosque reopened for worship on March 5, 2021, after 126 years without prayers. If you visit to pray, check the timing beforehand and dress with respect. Guides can explain the building’s history and answer questions about Islam. Free copies of the Quran in several languages, along with smaller books on related topics, are available.