Çorlulu Ali Paşa Fountain Regained Its Water

In the scope of restoration works undertaken at Çorlulu Ali Paşa fountain in Mevlanakapı Neighborhood, cement-based materials and foul junctures were cleaned, joints were built and with cleaning operations the facade was repaired.

The fountain is situated in Mevlanakapı Neighborhood, at the junction of Tarsuslu Camii Street and Çorlulu Ali Paşa Street. It is known that the fountain was built in 1711 for Çorlulu Ali Paşa after his death. The Paşa had served as the grand vizier of Sultan Ahmet the 3rd in 1711.

On the front of the fountain with a square planned reservoir constructed using alternating pieces of stone and brick, there is a pointed arched niche. There are a total of three inscriptions on the front of the fountain. The inscription on the arch on the right side is the construction inscription dated 1711 and the one on the left is known to be describing the repair done by Hanife Hanım in 1903. The packed basmala inside the arch reflects the repair conducted on the fountain for the second time in 1953.

In the scope of restoration works, cement-based materials and foul junctures were removed from the fountain, joints were built and with cleaning operations the facade was repaired. While the necessary parts of the fountain’s original basins and benches were repaired, the missing parts were constructed in line with the original structure. The concrete dome and eaves on the top cover of the fountain were removed and built using a wooden frame. The decorations and dentils on the eaves were remanufactured in accordance with archive photographs. The top cover was covered with tiles instead of lead, for security reasons. After the cleaning and coloring works on the inscriptions, it was ornamented with gold leaf and connected to tap water.