Suleymaniye Mosque

Süleymaniye Mosque rises above Istanbul’s Golden Horn in the Fatih district. Designed by Mimar Sinan for Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, it was built between 1550 and 1557 and remains an active place of worship. Inside, look up to the central dome, stained glass and calligraphy; outside, the gardens and terrace open onto views of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the city. The mosque sits within a wider complex, with the tombs of Süleyman and Hürrem Sultan nearby. It is a rewarding stop for architecture, history and a quieter pause in the old city.

A mosque commissioned by Süleyman

Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent commissioned the mosque, and the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan designed it. Construction took place from 1550 to 1557, during Süleyman’s reign. Set on Istanbul’s Third Hill, the building became a defining part of the city’s historic skyline.

Süleymaniye is part of a külliye, a mosque complex that historically brought religious, educational and social services together. Its associated buildings included madrasas, a hospital, a public kitchen, a bath and a library. Several original complex buildings have survived, though their uses have changed over time.

The dome and interior

The central dome is the interior’s focal point. Material on the building gives its height as about 53 metres, with a diameter of roughly 26 to 27.5 metres. Smaller domes and half-domes frame the main structure. Windows around the dome’s base bring natural light into the spacious prayer hall.

Look for stained glass, calligraphy, tilework and the large chandeliers. The mosque’s four minarets and carefully arranged domes are also worth seeing from outside, where the building’s scale becomes clear against the surrounding city. Sinan’s design belongs to the classical Ottoman architectural tradition.