Jumah Mosque (Juma Mosque)

The Jumah Mosque stands on Botanikuri Street in the Abanotubani district of Old Tbilisi, Georgia, close to the sulphur baths. It was built in 1895 on the site of earlier mosques, in a period when Tbilisi had a significant Muslim population, including Azerbaijani and Persian merchants. The building has a brick and stone exterior with decorative bands and an Ottoman-influenced style with Moorish elements, a prominent minaret and a central prayer hall. Tbilisi's mosque has a particular distinction: Sunni and Shia worshippers have traditionally used the same prayer hall, which is unusual in the Muslim world. During the Soviet period the mosque was largely closed, and it later reopened for worship. Some of the other mosques of Tbilisi were demolished, so Jumah is one of the few that remain. The interior is simple and restrained, with a carpeted prayer hall and decoration based on geometric patterns. The mosque is next to the bath district, the Tbilisi Botanical Garden valley and Narikala Fortress, and its minaret is part of the Old Town skyline. Visitors may enter outside prayer times, remove their shoes, dress modestly and women normally cover their hair. Visits are free, and donations are welcome. Restoration and repairs have kept the mosque in use, and its courtyard provides a quiet space. A visit offers a view of Georgia's religious diversity alongside the nearby Orthodox churches, the synagogue and the Armenian church. Contact the caretakers for permission if the building appears closed.