It is the only mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina that features a minaret positioned on the building's left side.
The building houses a bezistan, or covered market, on the ground floor, which is highly unusual for a mosque structure.
The interior and exterior walls are covered in elaborate hand-painted floral decorations, earning it the 'Colorful' or 'Ornamented' moniker.
The mosque was commissioned for reconstruction by Suleiman Pasha, a vizier of the Travnik Eyalet, following a devastating 19th-century fire.
The foundations are built over the waters of the Grahovčica stream, which provides a unique structural base.
The Ornamented Mosque, locally known as Šarena Džamija or the Sulejmanija Mosque, is located in the center of Travnik. Its most distinctive feature is the exterior wall decoration, which consists of intricate floral motifs and geometric patterns painted directly onto the facade. Originally constructed in the mid-16th century, the building underwent significant reconstruction in 1815 after a major fire destroyed the original structure. It stands as a rare example of Ottoman architecture in Bosnia, specifically notable for placing the minaret on the left side of the building rather than the right. The lower floor of the mosque houses a variety of traditional shops and a bezistan, which integrates commercial activity directly into the sacred structure. It is built over the river Grahovčica, which flows beneath the stone foundation of the complex.
From the small bridge crossing the Grahovčica stream, which provides the best angle of the painted exterior and minaret.
Visit the adjacent traditional shops to see local handicrafts that have been sold in the area for generations.
Observe the minaret's position from the street level to contrast it with standard Ottoman mosque designs.
Do not enter the prayer hall during active prayer times; avoid taking photographs of people while they are praying.
Visitors must dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered; women are required to cover their hair with a scarf; remove shoes before entering the prayer hall.
