The Juma-Jami is the largest mosque of Crimea and was founded by Khan Devlet I Giray in 1552. The Khan commissioned Istanbul architect Mimar Sinan (1489–1588) to build the mosque.[2] Sinan was the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. He designed the Sinan Pasha Mosque and the Şehzade Mosque in Istanbul. Construction of the Juma-Jami Mosque was a long process. At the time, Mimar Sinan was busy with construction of the Süleymaniye Mosque, in Istanbul, which was also plagued by financial difficulties due to money being spent on a war with Ivan the Terrible.
The mosque continued to be embellished and improved over time. From 1740 to 1743, the mosque was rebuilt and the main building was restored; from 1758 to 1769, the western facade of the mosque was decorated with paintings.[3]
