Küçük İmaret Cemetery (Hamzapaşa Mosque Burial Ground)

I would now like to introduce you to the Küçük İmaret Cemetery—also known as the Hamza Pasha Mosque Burial Ground—located in the Gülbaharhatun Neighborhood of Trabzon’s Ortahisar district. Dating back to the Ottoman era, this historic cemetery was established in the 18th century after the original İmaret Cemetery had reached capacity. The site contains numerous Ottoman tombstones as well as an open-air mausoleum with a hexagonal plan dedicated to Hamza Pasha, who passed away in 1735.

The diverse headgear, forms, and decorative features of the tombstones reflect the artistic sensibilities of the period while offering valuable insights into Trabzon’s past social and cultural fabric. When considered alongside the Hamza Pasha Mosque and mausoleum, the Küçük İmaret Cemetery stands as a significant cultural heritage site that preserves Trabzon’s historic Ottoman-era character to the present day.