"Today, I went to Ulu masque. An impressive historical mosque in the heart of Tarsus. The architecture is stunning, with a serene courtyard and a spiritual atmosphere. Definitely worth visiting to feel the history of the city."

Samira Saraeian

"The Grand Mosque was built in 1579, in the times when Tarsus was already a part of the Ottoman Empire. Previously, this region had been under the control of Radamanid dynasty. The Radamanids were one of numerous frontier beyliks established by Oghuz Turkish clans after the decline of Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. In 1516, they lost their independence and became the vassals of the Ottomans. In the name of this dynasty, Ramadanid beys still administered Tarsus. İbrahim Bey, the son of Piri Pasha of the Ramadanids, ordered the erection of the Grand Mosque in Tarsus.

The mosque was built in a place that had served the religious worship purposes for a long time. The inscription on the Grand Mosque provides information that an earlier mosque had stood there before. It was built in the 9th century when Tarsus was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty. When Tarsus was reconquered by the Byzantine army, that mosque was transformed into a church, presumably dedicated to St. Peter. The fate of this church remains a mystery; possibly it was intentionally demolished. On the other hand, some parts of this church could have been incorporated into the building now known as the Grand Mosque. The Bazaar of Forty Spoons (tr. Kırkkaşık Bedesten) was build simultaneously to the erection of the Grand Mosque in the late 16th century. It was managed by a religious foundation that supported the mosque with the funds obtained from the bedesten."

Ramil Khasanov

"Mesquita em Tarsus.
The mosque is at the center of Tarsus in Camii Nur neighbourhood. It is the biggest mosque of Tarsus. It is very close to St Paul's Church, only about 180 metres (590 ft) bird's flight away.
The mosque had been built in 1579 during Ottoman rule. The commissioner of the mosque is İbrahim Bey of Ramadanid dynasty, a Turkmen dynasty which was the ruler of the region before 1517 and continued as the vassal of the Ottoman Empire during the rest of the 16th century. But according to information plate of the mosque, there was an older mosque in the place of Grand Mosque which was built during the Abbasid (Arab) rule in the 9th century . After Tarsus was captured by the Byzantine Empire, the old mosque was transformed into a church. But in the 14th century Ramazanoğlu captured Tarsus and in 1579 the mosque was rebuilt. Kırkkaşık Bedesten a bedesten to support the mosque was also built in 1579.
The entrance to mosque courtyard is via a monumental marble gate at the north . The nartex with 14 columns to bear 16 domes has been decorarated with tiles. The building material of the main building is carved stone. The columns in the main building have been connected with half pointed arch so called Iranian Arch. The pulpit and the niche (directed to Mecca) is made of marble.
At the east of the mosque there are tombs of Al-Ma'mun (the Abbasid caliph), Luqman and Seth who is believed to be the son of Adam."

João Jaques