Suleymaniye Mosque

The Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Istanbul. Perched on one of Istanbul’s seven hills, it offers a breathtaking view of the Golden Horn. The mosque’s interior is both spacious and elegant. Located in the historic old peninsula of Istanbul, nearby attractions include the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, the Rustem Pasha Mosque, and the New Mosque. It is also within walking distance of the Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. Women are required to cover their legs, arms, and hair, and men to cover their legs.

It took 7 years to build till 1557 and is an iconic landmark of the city. The Suleymaniye Mosque is another imperial mosque in Istanbul. It was built by Mimar Sinan, widely regarded as one of the best architects of the era. The mosque complex has several buildings that were built to serve as hospitals, Quran and primary schools, public baths and others. It has a massive courtyard with 4 minarets on each corner, and the main mosque has a main dome surrounded by many smaller ones. The colonnade style is extremely pronounced, with marble, graphite and porphyry columns adorning the exterior of the mosque. The Iznik tiles are used minimally but enough to subtly add to the aura. The mihrab, like the other imperial mosques is made out of marble, and is extremely understated in it's beauty. The buttresses were incoporated into the walls, with colonnaded galleries which make the mosque more spacious. The woodwork too isn't over the top, and you can see the efforts put into making the mosque simplistic yet splendid.