The word “Hisar” is defined in the dictionary as “a small castle built of stone with high walls and towers, surrounded by moats, to protect a city or an important place.” Hisar Mosque takes its name from the Harbor Castle (also known as Lower Castle or Ok Castle), which was once of critical importance for the defense of İzmir. The area known today as Kemeraltı was once covered by the sea and served as the inner harbor until the late 18th century. Harbor Castle was located between the old customs building, now known as Konak Pier, and the former service building of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Thus, the proximity of Hisar Mosque to Harbor Castle determined its name and led to the surrounding area known as Hisarönü. Today, Hisarönü remains one of the central meeting points in İzmir. It would not be an exaggeration to say that no İzmir resident would give directions to Kemeraltı or arrange a meeting there without mentioning Hisarönü.
The earliest recorded information about Hisar Mosque can be found in Seyahatname by Evliya Çelebi. According to this source, Hisar Mosque was built in 1591-92, and its patron was Molla Yakup. However, neither Seyahatname nor any other sources contain significant information about Molla Yakup.
Architecturally, Hisar Mosque exhibits the characteristics of classical Ottoman mosque architecture, yet it stands out particularly for having three mihrabs. Within its courtyard, there is a library, a muvakkithane (a building where muvakkits—specialists who determine prayer times based on sun’s movement —carry out their duties), a fountain, and two sherbet dispensers. Outside the courtyard, in the area now known as Hisarönü Square, there are two additional shadırvans (ablution fountains).
When mentioning Hisar Mosque, it is impossible not to speak of Rakım Elkutlu, one of the most significant musicians raised in İzmir. Born in İzmir in 1871, Rakım Elkutlu was appointed as the imam and preacher of Hisar Mosque in 1892 and served in this position for over 56 years until his passing in 1948. Like his father, who was also the imam and preacher of Hisar Mosque, Elkutlu was raised in Sufi circles from an early age and received music lessons from prominent figures of his time. Over the years, he developed a unique style, and particularly after the proclamation of the Republic, he became widely known across Türkiye for his compositions in the form of Turkish classical songs.
Rakım Elkutlu, one of the prominent cultural figures raised in our city, served at Hisar Mosque for over half a century. To explore his life, the book Bestekar Hoca Mehmed Rakım Elkutlu, published by İzmir Development Agency’s Cultural Publications, provides detailed insights. Please scan the QR code to access this work and listen to Rakım Hoca’s compositions.