The Dzhumaya Mosque, the Friday Mosque, belongs to the first centuries of Ottoman building in Europe and is one of the oldest such monuments still in use in the Balkans. It sits in the middle of the pedestrian centre of Plovdiv, hemmed in by shops and cafes, at a point where the modern city, the Ottoman city and the Roman city are stacked one above another: the curved end of the ancient stadium has been excavated a few steps away and can be seen below street level. The prayer hall is a broad square space covered by a grid of domes carried on massive piers, a solution characteristic of early Ottoman architecture. Inside, painted floral and geometric decoration covers the vaults and the drums, restored over time but faithful to the tradition. A single minaret marks the building in the skyline of the old town. The mosque remains an active place of worship for the Muslim community of Plovdiv, and a small tea room attached to it is a fixture of local life. Filmed in 4K, with careful interior work and aerial views of the old town, the programme suits strands on sacred sites, Ottoman heritage and the cities of the Balkans.
