Mosque of Sehzade

Experience The History and Architecture of The Mosque of Sehzade

Istanbul is a city of grand architecture, and many of the most beautiful buildings are mosques. The Ottoman Empire left behind extraordinary nods to the past, and the many Imperial mosques which still stand today have thousands of years of history behind them. One of those is the Mosque of Sehzade.

Located in the Sultanahmet/Fatih district of Istanbul, the Mosque of Sehzade stands tall and proud. The mosque has a unique history and actually has a detailed and interesting story behind it.

The History of The Mosque of Sehzade

The famous Sultan Suleyman The Magnificent commissioned the Mosque of Sehzade to be built, in memory of his son, Sehzade Mehmet, who had passed away in 1543, at the young age of 22. He contacted the famous architect of the time, Mimar Sinan, to complete the design. The architecture is truly magnificent, and the story behind it is very interesting.

Sultan Suleyman was one of the most powerful in the Ottoman Empire, and he had several sons. Out of all of his sons, all had the same mother, apart from one. Some consider that a conspiracy took place to ensure that Sehzade Mustafa would not become Sultan upon his father’s passing in the future, however confusion took over and it ended up being his favourite son, Sehzade Mehmet who died. It is for this son that the mosque was built, in commemoration. The official line is that his son died of smallpox, however some consider this to have been a conspiracy, to ensure he ended up ill. We will never know for sure!

In addition, The Mosque of Sehzade is also the first large scale mosque designed by Sinan, which gives it extreme importance in history, considering the buildings he went on to design and be famous for. This is the mosque which helped Sinan make his name.

The Architecture of The Mosque of Sehzade

Construction of the mosque began in 1543, and it is designed in a typical square shape. There are four semi-domes which support the whole central dome, with the main mosque dome measuring 19 metres in diameter, and a huge 53 metres in diameter. There are two minarets to this mosque, which are decorated intricately.

The decoration on the Mosque of Sehzade really helped Sinan stand out as an architect, as at the time, a lot of construction was quite plain and simple. The design of this mosque was a lot more intricate, and therefore turned heads.

The courtyard’s central fountain is particularly stunning, and again, this was a pioneering detail of its time. The complex was built to contain a madrasah, a guesthouse, school, caravansary, refectory, and several tombs. The entire complex is decorated with colourful tiles, which reflect the light. Of course, the tombs of Sehzade Mehmed is located here.

Even today, the whole complex has a calm and serene feel to it, and the gardens are ideal for catching the sun and enjoying a few moments of rest and relaxation. This is a mosque that is stunningly beautiful and has an interesting story behind it, but it is never completely crowded, and that means you can enjoy the appearance and feel of the area without having to do battle with crowds!

Of course, over time Istanbul has seen its fair shares of natural disasters, such as fires and earthquakes, and these have done damage to the mosque from time to time. Several renovations have taken place, and as such, the design which stands today is not the exact same design which the mosque originally had. Despite that, you will still be able to stand in awe and wonder at the sight before you.

Visiting The Mosque of Sehzade

It is very easy to reach the Mosque of Sehzade, as it is located in the Sultanahmet/Fatih district of Istanbul. Of course, this is the oldest part of the city, and full of amazing architecture and history to explore. You can either walk, if the weather is pleasant, or you can take a tram from Eminonu, up to Sultanahmet. This will save your legs a little, and allow you to explore the area further!

In Sultanahmet itself, there are countless other attractions and areas of importance to visit, and you should also be sure to stop for lunch or dinner at one of the authentic Turkish restaurants in the winding streets. Of course, you could also stop at the nearby Grand Bazaar for a spot of shopping and culture all rolled into one!