The Sultan-Valida Mosque

The Sultan-Valida Mosque is located in the center of Sjenica. It was built in the mid – 19th century as the endowment of the mother of Abdul Hamid.

Its size and shape make it a significant urban detail of the place.

Regarding its construction, it has all the characteristics of monumental architecture, with a dominant large  dome, around 15 m in diameter. This dome of fascinating size is built of wood, but was originally made from lead sheets.


The people have preserved a legend about how the mosque came to be built. Rebels and outlaws robbed caravans carrying Validáis goods, the legend says. When she recovered her goods and ducats after a longtime, she gave it all for the construction of a mosque in Sjenica, for her soul, where the people could pray to their god.