Davud Pasha Complex

Davud Pasha Complex, commissioned by Grand Vizier Davud Pasha of the reign of Bayezid II, is a complex that includes a mosque, madrasa, school, courtroom, and soup kitchen, completed in 1485. The complex is today located exactly between the neighborhoods of Kocamustafapaşa and Cerrahpaşa within the boundaries of the Fatih district.

Buildings in the Complex

Davud Pasha Mosque is located on Ağa Baba Street in Cerrahpaşa. Since its construction, the mosque has suffered many natural disasters. After the 1766 Great Istanbul earthquake it was repaired by Hassa architects. In 1855 its two domes collapsed and in 1894 the entire prayer hall collapsed. The first repairs in the Republican era were carried out by Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi.

Davud Pasha Madrasa stands on the left side of the mosque. Its architecture is of the Classical Ottoman madrasa type. For a time it was used as a stable, manure store, and shelter.

The courtroom part, in May 1661 while located near Dülgerzade Mosque in Saraçhanebası, was ordered by Mehmed IV to be moved next to Davud Pasha Mosque. It was later added to the Davud Pasha Complex.

The school part belongs to the Davud Pasha Complex, initially used as a primary school, and with the educational reforms of the Tanzimat Period it became a Rüştiye School in 1847. Today it is used as Davutpaşa Anatolian High School.

The soup kitchen and imaret part was built to meet the needs of students remaining in the madrasa and the poor. However, because this structure no longer exists, its former location is unknown.