Destination
Ulu Camii
The mosque is located on Divanyolu Caddesi in the city center. It was built on the site of an old church called "Kızıl Kilise," whose construction date cannot be determined. The courtyard walls, columns, column capitals, and bell tower belonging to the old structure still exist. The mosque does not have a construction inscription. Therefore, it is not known for certain by whom and when it was built. It is estimated to have been commissioned by the Zengids in 1170-1175.
Ulu Camii and 6 places around it
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Highlights
- Faith heritage
Good for
- Heritage walks
Suggested visit:45 minutes
The mosque is located in the city center on Divanyolu Caddesi. It was built in place of an old church called "Kızıl Kilise," whose construction date cannot be determined. The courtyard walls, columns, column capitals, and bell tower belonging to the old structure still exist. The mosque does not have a construction inscription. Therefore, it is not known for certain by whom and when it was built. It is estimated to have been commissioned by the Zengids in 1170-1175. According to the inscriptions, Ulu Camii was repaired in 1684, 1779, 1780, and 1870. After the Islamic conquests, because of the red marbles used in the columns and its connection with the church, it was named “Mescid ül- Hamra (Red Masjid).” The last congregation area, which rests on piers and opens to the courtyard with fourteen pointed arches, each covered with cross vaults, is found for the first time in Anatolia at Urfa Ulu Camii.
There is a well in the prayer hall section of the mosque. According to a belief among the people, the cloth that Jesus sent to King Abgar with his Apostle Thomas was placed in this well. For this reason, the water of the well inside the mosque is considered healing. During the Republican period, a clock was added to the minaret and it was turned into a clock tower. The minaret also serves as the city’s first and only clock tower. The northwestern part of the mosque courtyard, surrounded by the thick walls belonging to Kızıl Kilise, is a cemetery. In the tomb in this cemetery is the grave of Şehabeddin Ahmet, the younger son of Mevlana Halid Ziyâeddin Hazretleri, the founder of the Halidi Order, who died in 1823. The tomb was restored by the Şanlıurfa ili Kültür Eğitim Sanat ve Araştırma Vakfı (ŞURKAV). The mosque was repaired in 2010-2011 by the General Directorate of Foundations.
Source: "Kültür ve İnançlar Diyarı Şanlıurfa" Şanlıurfa Governorship Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism Publications City Library Series:26
Places to Visit in Şanlıurfa Address: Camikebir Mahallesi, 63200 Şanlıurfa Merkez/Şanlıurfa
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Location and surroundings
Ulu Camii sits within Eyyübiye, Şanlıurfa. The toroti catalogue holds 75 described stops across Şanlıurfa, 48 of them in Eyyübiye.
The nearest stop is Nakibzade Medresesi, 30 m to the south. Another 6 catalogued points lie within a 30 km radius.
The Gaziantep – Sanliurfa route passes 11 km away, so this works as a stop along the drive.
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Frequently asked
- What is Ulu Camii?
- The mosque is located on Divanyolu Caddesi in the city center. It was built on the site of an old church called "Kızıl Kilise," whose construction date cannot be determined. The courtyard walls, columns, column capitals, and bell tower belonging to the old structure still exist. The mosque does not have a construction inscription. Therefore, it is not known for certain by whom and when it was built. It is estimated to have been commissioned by the Zengids in 1170-1175.
- Where is Ulu Camii?
- Ulu Camii is in Eyyübiye, Şanlıurfa.
- How long does it take to visit Ulu Camii?
- The suggested visit time for Ulu Camii is about 45 minutes.
- What else is there to see near Ulu Camii?
- toroti’s catalogue holds other destinations within 30 km of Ulu Camii; the closest are Nakibzade Medresesi, Kibris Mescidi, Hüseyin Paşa Camii.
- Is Ulu Camii on the way anywhere, and which route?
- Ulu Camii lies 11 km from the Gaziantep – Sanliurfa route, close enough to add to that drive with a short detour.