Мечеть Гурги

The Gurgi Mosque stands in the old city of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, on Al-Hara al-Kabira Street. It is built in the Ottoman architectural tradition and forms part of the group of historic buildings in the old town, close to the Arch of Marcus Aurelius. The mosque has an octagonal minaret and 16 domes. An antechamber to the right of the entrance holds the tombs of its founder and his family. The mosque takes its name from Mustafa Gurgi, who commissioned it and is described as being of Georgian origin.

According to our records the mosque was built in 1833, although some sources give 1834. It was founded by Mustafa Gurgi, who served as harbour chief and naval captain in the Ottoman province of Tripoli. He was also a son-in-law and close associate of the governor Yusuf Pasha Karamanli, who ruled from 1795 to 1832.