The centuries-old Muradie Mosque, located in Vlora, was built by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan, often referred to as the “Michelangelo of the Orient.” It stands as one of the most prominent monuments of cultural heritage in Albania. According to an inscription at the entrance, the mosque was built in 1542 by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It is situated in the heart of Vlora, near Flag Square.
The mosque is highly visible from all sides, as no structures have been built in its immediate vicinity. Historically, it featured a portico, of which only traces remain on the northern wall. A distinctive architectural element of the mosque is its twelve-sided drum, which rises above the cubic prayer hall. Like most mosques, it includes a prayer hall illuminated by five windows on each side. The hall is accessed through a single entrance on the north side, which is covered by a low arch.
Inside, directly opposite the entrance, is the mihrab, designed in a semicircular shape, while the pulpit (minbar) is positioned to its right. The minaret has a polygonal base and is constructed from carved stone, featuring decorative stalactite motifs on the Kazan console. From an architectural perspective, the Muradie Mosque is one of the most significant examples of Ottoman architecture in Vlora and beyond.
