Great Mahmudiye Mosque | Constanta

Physical & Material Composition

The Grand Mosque of Constanța is a religious structure constructed from reinforced concrete and stone, featuring Egyptian-Byzantine and Romanian architectural styles. The building includes a 47-meter tall minaret and a central dome with a diameter of 8 meters.

The primary structural materials are concrete for the dome and minaret, while the interior houses a Turkish rug weighing 490 kilograms. The mosque’s walls are finished with limestone and decorated with intricate interior murals and Arabic calligraphy.

Geographical Location

The site is located at Strada Arhiepiscopiei 5 in the historic peninsular district of the city. It is positioned approximately 200 meters west of Ovid Square and the National Museum of History and Archaeology.

The coordinates for the structure are 44.1733° N, 28.6597° E. It sits 250 meters north of the Roman Mosaic Building Click to open side panel for more information  and overlooks the Tomis Tourist Port.

Access Logistics

Visitors enter the mosque through the main gate on Strada Arhiepiscopiei. The minaret is accessible via an internal spiral staircase consisting of 140 stone steps leading to a circular observation balcony.

The nearest public transit link is the Poarta 1 bus terminal, located 500 meters to the south. The surrounding terrain is flat, though the ascent of the minaret requires physical navigation of a narrow vertical passage.

Historical Markers

King Carol I commissioned the construction of the mosque in 1910 as a gift to the local Muslim community. The project was completed in 1913 under the supervision of engineer Gogu Constantinescu and architect Victor Ștefănescu.

The structure was built on the site of the former Mahmudia Mosque, which dated back to 1822. It was the first building in Romania to utilize reinforced concrete as a primary structural material.

Insider Observation

A specific serial number is woven into the edge of the historic Hereke carpet located in the main prayer hall. The minaret’s balcony features a 3-centimeter iron ring used for securing the muezzin's original lighting equipment.

The exterior limestone blocks near the base of the minaret show distinct tool marks from 1912. Small geometric misalignments in the mosaic tiles around the mihrab identify specific points of manual repair performed during the 1950s.

Surrounding Environmental Context

The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is located 150 meters to the south on the same street. The Ion Jalea Sculpture Museum is situated 100 meters to the west.

Vegetation in the immediate courtyard includes Rosa (Rose) bushes and a single Ficus carica (Common Fig) tree. The Black Sea is visible from the upper balcony of the minaret, located 150 meters to the east.