Suleymaniye Mosque

The Grandeur of Suleymaniye Mosque

It is impossible to visit Istanbul and not gaze upon Suleymaniye Mosque. At first, you might not realise this is the mosque you’re looking at, but it’s the largest one on the skyline, so it’s very likely that you will get to see it!

Overlooking the Golden Horn, gazing down onto the waters of the Bosphorus, Suleymaniye Mosque has a wealth of history, as well as being a truly staggering feat of Ottoman era architecture. Built by the famous architect, Mimar Sinan, Suleymaniye Mosque is one Istanbul’s most treasured buildings, and visiting this wonderful sight is a must do during your time in the city.

The History And Architecture of Suleymaniye Mosque

Istanbul is a city of hills, and Suleymaniye Mosque is built upon what is known as the ‘third hill’. It is huge, with the main dome in the centre standing at a huge 47 metres in height. The size isn’t only what makes it so wonderful however, as the intricacies, and the history, add to its wonder.

As we mentioned, Suleymaniye Mosque was built by the renowned Ottoman era architect, Mimar Sinan. Sinan was responsible for some of Istanbul’s most famous buildings, and this is thought to be his masterpiece design of them all. When you look at it, you can see why!

Suleymaniye Mosque was completed in 1557 and was built as a tribute to the famous Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, a Sultan who reigned over the Ottoman Empire more than 40 years. During his rule, the city was a calmer place, with justice and peace.

Of course, there have been many fires and earthquakes over the years which have hit Istanbul hard and several of these affected Suleymaniye Mosque quite badly. In 1660, the mosque had to be restored due to damage, with baroque piece added into the original plan. The courtyard of the mosque was used to store weapons during World War I, and at this time there was another fire. The mosque stood damaged until 1956 when it was fully restored to how you see it today. Of course, these restorations mean that Suleymaniye Mosque doesn’t stand in its original state, as Mimar Sinan intended, but much of the main design is still evident.

Within the complex there is a madrasa, kitchen, soup kitchen, library, market (bazaar), and a few different tombs. You can still see some of these areas today, and some are even in use. You will find Suleyman The Magnificent’s tomb here, as well as the tomb of his wife. These are decorated in opulent style, with stained glass and precious stones. As a nod to his greatest piece of work, you will also find Mimar Sinan’s tomb here too.

Visiting Suleymaniye Mosque

You will see Suleymaniye Mosque, but you might not know how to traverse the streets of the Golden Horn to get to it! Luckily, it’s not as difficult as it seems. You can easily walk from Eminonu up to the mosque, or you can take a tram towards the Grand Bazaar and walk just a few minutes from the tram stop. There are signs directing you, so it isn’t a difficult place to find.

Remember, Suleymaniye Mosque is a functioning mosque so it will be closed during prayer times. You should also remember to always adhere to mosque etiquette when visiting, i.e. women should cover their head, everyone should remove shoes, and everyone should also dress respectfully, with legs and arms covered. The mosque workers will advise you if they think you need to cover arms etc, and they will give you a shawl if you don’t have one. There is no admission fee to go inside Suleymaniye Mosque, however donations are always welcome. When it comes to keeping buildings such as this in working order, donations are very important.

The mosque is open every day, and from 10am until 6pm. As we said however, remember that the mosque will close during prayer times.

Take your time exploring the interior and exterior of the mosque, as some of the details are so intricate that you really need to look closely to get the whole effect. This will be one place you will probably have your jaw dropped when visiting, as the detail is so stunning and beautiful. Being so close to a building of such huge historical and cultural importance is something very special indeed.

When you have finished exploring Suleymaniye Mosque, you are very close to several other main attractions. This being the oldest part of Istanbul, you can expect several spots of importance, so you can head to Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, have a wander around the quiet gardens in Gulhane Park, head to the Basilica Cistern, enjoy an hour or two in the Spice Bazaar, or head off to get lost inside the Grand Bazaar! These are just a few of the things you can do when you visit this most historic and special part of the city.

Of course, if you love seafood, continue down to Eminonu and be sure to grab an iconic piece of street food – balik ekmek. This is freshly caught fish in bread, with salad. It’s delicious and it’s extremely cheap! If you prefer a sit down meal, there are several top quality seafood restaurants underneath Galata Bridge. The prices will be higher but the food is divine, and the view is something very special indeed.