Hacı Miktad Mosque

We are now at the Hacı Miktad Mosque, which holds a significant place in the historical fabric of Giresun city center. This is not merely a structure used for worship; with its nearly four-century history, it is an important cultural heritage site bearing witness to Giresun's urban history, architecture, and charitable foundation culture. The mosque's story dates back to 1661. An inscription on the eastern facade reveals that the first mosque was built by Hacı Miktad Ağa. This structure, rising in Giresun at that time, gradually became one of the city's important places of worship and gathering. Approximately two centuries later, in 1841, the mosque was repaired by Hacı Çalık Kapudan. Today, one of the most important clues to the building's past is the inscriptions from this period. However, the structure we are visiting is not identical to the first mosque from 1661. In 1889, Hacı İsmail Efendi had the current mosque built in place of the old one. The inscription above the main entrance on the north facade of the mosque also gives the construction date as September 13, 1889. Thus, the Hacı Miktad Mosque carries its historical identity to the present day through repairs and reconstructions carried out in different periods. Upon entering, we see the dome resting on an octagonal drum at the center of the building's architectural structure. The dome is supported by eight pillars adjacent to the walls, and eight windows on the drum provide light to the interior. The transition between the dome and the walls is achieved with pendentives. This arrangement presents one of the finest examples of 19th-century Ottoman mosque architecture in Giresun. In the interior, the mihrab and minbar are particularly noteworthy. The mihrab, made of cut stone, has a very dynamic and ornate design. The mihrab niche is surrounded by borders, and fluted columns are located on either side. The wooden minbar, on the other hand, offers a different example of material and workmanship within the predominantly stone architecture. The women's section is also striking with its semi-circular structure extending towards the main prayer hall.