The largest mosque in Ankara and one of the oldest Muslim buildings in the is the Kocatepe Mosque. It was built in 1987 on a hill near Kizilay Square. The complex was erected according to the drawings of of architect-planner Husrev Taylan, and took about 19 years (1964-1986). This new symbol of Islam was built on the model of Sultan Sinan's mosques. The architectural finishes of the mosque were also done in the classical Ottoman style.
The area of the mosque is 4,288 metres square (64×67), the height (main Dome) is 48.5 metres, and the dome diameter is 25.5 metres. The dome is of enormous size and four high minarets pointing upwards, the height of each of which is 88 metres high, can be seen from afar. They can be an excellent landmark while walking around the southern part of the center of Ankara. The domes and minarets are decorated with gilded crescents.
It is immediately clear that no money was spared on the construction of the mosque: the mosque inside is decorated with stained glass and gold plates, huge crystal chandeliers, decorative tiles and marble. At its centre is a model of the Mescid-I Nebevi mosque in Medina. The Medina Mosque was donated in 1993 King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia to President Demirel of Turkey in 1993.
The Kocatepe architectural complex consists of the mosque itself, a library, a conference centre and a covered car park. Its subterranean spaces house tea houses and one of the city's largest supermarkets.
