Lead Mosque, Berat
| Lead Mosque | |
|---|---|
Xhamia e Plumbit | |
The mosque in 2025 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Mosque | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Rruga Gaqi Gjika, Berat, Berat County |
| Country | Albania |
Location of the mosque in Albania | |
Interactive map of Lead Mosque | |
| Coordinates | 40°42′16″N 19°57′19″E / 40.7045°N 19.9554°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Islamic architecture |
| Style | Ottoman |
| Founder | Ahmet Bej Uzgurliu |
| Completed | 961 AH (1553/1554 CE) |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | 1 |
| Minaret | 1 |
| Materials | Lead |
Official name | Lead Mosque, Berat |
The Lead Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Plumbit; Turkish: Kurşun Camii, lit. 'Kurşunlu Mosque'), also known as the Izgurli Mosque, is a mosque located in the city of Berat, in the Berat County, south-central Albania. The mosque is named from the lead coating of its sphere-shaped domes.[1] It was designated as a Cultural Monument of Albania and forms part of the Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastër, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.[2]
Historic overview
The mosque was completed in 961 AH (1553/1554 CE) by Ahmet Bej Uzgurliu, a local nobleman, at the time a vassal hailing from the Skuraj family.[3] Explorer Evliya Çelebi’s description told of carved stones underneath the lead, topping off a complex including a bazaar, madrasa, imaret, school, Turkish bath, and shadirvan. The prayer hall is square with a northern portico and a tall, thin minaret molded in cloisonné where it meets the roof. Many windows light the interior.
The Uzgurli mosque was restored in 2014 by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) during which the minaret balconry (sherefeja) changed slightly and got modernized a bit.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Garwood, Duncan (2009). Mediterranean Europe. Lonely Planet. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-74104-856-8. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
- ^ "Lead Mosque in Downtown Berat, Albania" (image). Cultural Inventory. March 15, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
- ^ Vehbiu, Ardian (October 5, 2015). "PLLAKA E SKURËS". Peizazhe të Fjalës (in Albanian). Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Turkish agency restores 5 Ottoman-era legacies in Albania". Daily Sabah. March 3, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
Further reading
- Anamali, Skënder; Prifti, Kristaq (2002). Historia e popullit shqiptar: vëllimi i parë (in Albanian). Tirana: Toena. ISBN 9992716223.
- Manahasa, Edmond (2006). The Existing Mosques Built During Ottoman Empire in Albania (Thesis). Epoka University – via ResearchGate.
External links
Media related to Lead Mosque in Berat at Wikimedia Commons