English: It was possible to enter the garden, but at the time from the mosque only, which has smaller entrances for everyday use. The upper floor and some rooms to the sides were reserved for the sultan if he visited. From the so-called hunkar mahfili he could them attend the service.

The Beylerbeyi Mosque (also known as the Hamid-I Evvel Mosque) is an Ottoman Baroque mosque, built in 1777-1778, and was commisioned by Abdülhamid I in the memory of his mother Rabia Sermi Sultan. Its architect was maybe (in many cases the actual architect was not known, but a “chief architect” who oversaw all sort of building sites in town was often mentioned) Mehmed Tahir Ağa. The dome has been replaced as the original one was damaged, and the two minarets were not in the original design but built in 1810-11. The mosque is on the side of the Bosporus in a neighbourhood called Beylerbeyi itself.

In its front there is a courtyard, and in front of that fishermen are busy with their rods, surrounded by waiting cats.