The Banya Bashi Mosque is the only working mosque in the capital. It is one of the oldest mosques in all of Europe, built in 1575 by the famous architect Mimar Sinan. The name of the mosque comes from the phrase “many baths”. It is part of a larger complex which features ancient thermal baths located in the rear section, which were discovered and restored. The interior features calligraphic excerpts of the Koran.
Today, the Banya Bashi Mosque is one of the few operating mosques left following the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. The mosque is located nearby a Synagogue, the Catholic cathedral and many Orthodox churches, as a gesture of tolerance and respect for the Muslim religion in the city.