Banya Bashi Mosque

Sofia, Bulgaria

Banya Bashi Mosque – Sofia, Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the split within the General Council of the Muftis (Glavnoto Myuftiistvo) – the representative body of the Islamic community in Bulgaria – goes back as many as 13 years. Currently, the community has two competing leaders: Nedim Gendzhev, officially recognised by the judiciary but not by the Islamic community itself, and Mustafa Hadzhi, elected by a self-convened extraordinary assembly.

Significance: Constructed in 1566 during Ottoman rule, Banya Bashi Mosque is the only functioning mosque in Sofia today, reflecting the city’s historical multicultural fabric.

Key Features:

Designed by Mimar Sinan, featuring a large dome and a single minaret.
Built over natural thermal springs, with steam visible near its foundations.
The name “Banya Bashi” translates to “many baths,” referencing the nearby baths.

Note: The mosque stands as a testament to Sofia’s Ottoman past and architectural heritage.