Aladza (Motley) Mosque
The endower of the mosque, Ishak- Beg, was a commander of the Turkish army stationed in Macedonia, with the headquarters in Skopje. He was the son of the famous Jigit - Pasha, and the father of Isa - Beg. He is fairly deemed one of the greatest donors who enabled construction of numerous secular and ecclesiastical buildings in Skopje as early as the first half of the XV century. From his numerous feats, today only three are still existing: the caravanserai Suli - Inn; Aladza (Motley) Mosque; and the turbeh (burial chamber) of Pasha -Beg, one of Ishak - Beg sons. The historic sources confirm that he also built a large medresa (religious school), a lodging chamber within the Aladza Mosque, and other public buildings.
According to the preserved documents, the Aladza (motley) Mosque was finished in 1438. It is not known when the turbeh with the grave of Pasha - Beg was built, since the date of his death is also unknown. Undoubtedly it was also built at some time during the first half of the XV century. The preserved inscription above the mosque's port reveals that in 1519 the refurbishment of the mosque took place financed by Mehmed, the son of Haji Dzindzi, the grandson of Ishak - Beg, when also the two side naves were added.
The name Aladza (Motley) comes from the encrusted ceramic tiles that ornamented the facades and the tambour, destroyed during the major fire in 1689. Today such encrusted tiles are preserved only on the turbeh of Pasha -Beg, built next to the mosque.
The mosque is modest in dimensions, and also its architecture is plain. The massive wooden door ornamented with carving is rather interesting.
The turbeth of Pasha - Beg is six-sided in shape, built of marble blocks cut according to a separate scheme for each element. It is vaulted with a dome positioned on a narrow tambour. It was conserved after the disastrous 1963 earthquake.
