IMPERIAL MOSQUES

Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque History Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque: The mosque from which the locality derives its name is located in Fatih was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in the name of his son Selim I on the fifth hill of seven hills of Istanbul which overlooks Golden Horn. The …

Sehzade Mosque History This mosque was dedicated to one of the Princes of Suleyman the Magnificent, who died young: Sehzade Mehmet, the son of Suleyman and Hurrem was born in 1521 and died in 1543. Some believe that Sinan, was building it for Suleyman, but, experimenting with the weight of …

Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Uskudar History Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Uskudar: Ordered by the daughter of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, it is part of a complex which is masterfully integrated into a sloping site which reaches down to the sea shore and includes a madrasah, a guesthouse, a refection hail, a primary school …

Mihrimah Sultan Mosque History Mihrimah Sultan Mosque: This square-based mosque represents the most advanced stage of the single-dome model. Here, a large (20m) and high (35m) single dome dominates the whole structure. The dome is supported by four pilasters rising to form a sort of bearing tower like system consisting …

Atik Valide Mosque (Nurbanu Sultan) Atil Valide Mosque: Here too, protruding mihrab is covered by a semidome, as in the case of the Molla Çelebi and Semiz Ali Pasha Mosques. The building was widened, perhaps by Davud Aga in 1583, with the addition of twe domes on each side of …

Süleymaniye Mosque The Süleymaniye Mosque is the largest square-based semidomed mosque (3100 m²) to have been designed by Sinan. The two semi-domes are situated in the direction of the mihrap, a plan we see in Saint Sophia and later in the Bayezid Mosque (1501-1505). Sinan had a very strong desire …

The Kulliyah of Fatih Mosque Fatih Mosque. It was contructed on the fourth of seven hills of Istanbul. The kulliyah was constructed upon the remnants of The Church of the Holy Apostles which was the patriarchal Church of the Eastern Roman Empire. The mosque and the kulliyah are among the …