ottoman period

Podgrad Čaršija (Mejdan)

Podgradska čaršija - Mejdan

The space between the Podgrad bridge and the Podgrad mosque was called Mejdan (trade centre) or Little Čaršija, and it was used for trading agricultural goods, clothes and other products. The Podgrad mosque was rebuilt and renovated several times throughout its history and carried different names: Mejdan mosque, Hadži Salih Bure mosque, Zulfikar-kapetan mosque or Ali-paša Rizvanbegović mosque. It is located on an island between two inlets of the Bregava river. On its ground floor there are three shops with arched entries turned towards the čaršija. The mosque has similarities with the Suleymani mosque in Travnik, as it is erected on pillars above the shops, being on of the rare mosques with integrated shops that formed part of the mosque’s vakuf (foundation). The mosque was built by domestic craftsmen and its construction reflects elements of Mediterranean architecture.

Opposite the mosque was the Muftića han (inn) and several shops for traders and craftsmen. The han is now known as Konak and it is used as a hostel and youth club.

On the other side of the river rises the Turković tower. Blended with the rock at the foot of the Old town, it is believed that the tower was built in several phases, from the XVII to the XVIII century. It consists of the tower, old house, kitchen, northern house, upper and lower courtyard, garden next to the house and staircase. It was originally a residence of the family Rizvanbegović, but eventually it was acquired by the family Turković as part of a dowry.  The Turković tower represents a unique transitionary form between a feudal tower and urban house.

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