Mosque of Süleyman

The Süleymaniye Mosque was built in the sixteenth century under the orders of Süleyman the Magnificent (1520–1566), one of the most celebrated Ottoman sultans, who commissioned this place of worship from Mimar Sinan, a renowned imperial architect of the period. The Süleymaniye Mosque stands majestically atop a hillside and was the largest mosque in Istanbul for nearly five centuries.

The religious building was just one part of a much larger complex that housed additional structures, including madrasas (Qur’anic schools), a library, a medical clinic, soup kitchens for the poor, a cemetery, a hammam and a restaurant. Today, some of these buildings have been converted into cafés or restaurants, while others (such as the hammam) have retained their original structure.

Visiting the Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye Mosque was built on the western side of the city on what is known as the “Third Hill of Istanbul”, from which one can enjoy splendid views of the surrounding landscape and the Golden Horn. Due to its location, its four minarets are visible from various points across the city and stand out against the verdant vegetation that surrounds the religious building. The Süleymaniye Mosque is considered one of the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture and features an expansive rectangular plan encompassing the main prayer hall, crowned by a large central dome. From the outside, next to the central dome, you can see ten semi-domes rising above the side prayer halls, and four tall minarets.

The interior of the mosque impresses all visitors with its grandeur, as it can accommodate nearly five thousand worshippers, and its exceptional acoustics allow even the smallest sound to be heard in every corner of the building. Visitors are struck by the elaborate mosaic decorations, ceramic tiles and the mihrab adorned with tiles from Iznik, ancient Nicaea. It is impossible not to notice that most of the internal columns are “recycled”—sourced from other buildings. Historical accounts reveal that two of these were taken from a Byzantine palace, one from Alexandria in Egypt, and another from the Lebanese city of Baalbek.

The place of worship also houses the tomb of Süleyman the Magnificent and that of his wife, Hürrem Sultan (also known as Roxelana), both elegantly decorated with precious metals and stones. Architect Mimar Sinan himself had requested to be buried in this mosque, which he considered his masterwork. As mentioned, the mosque was part of a larger complex that included other public buildings. Today, the hammam remains in operation and continues to offer the Turkish bath experience, whilst the hospital has been converted into a café and the caravanserai into a restaurant serving local cuisine.

History of the Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye Mosque takes its name from its patron, Sultan Süleyman I, known to the Turks as “The Legislator” and to Europeans as “The Magnificent”, for bringing the Ottoman Empire to its greatest heights. Around 1557, Süleyman commissioned Mimar Sinan, a celebrated imperial architect, to create what would become the fourth major mosque in the city, following those of Fatih, Bayezid and Selim (Selimiye).

In designing the Süleymaniye Mosque, architect Mimar Sinan drew inspiration from the model of the Hagia Sophia and attempted to match its beauty and magnificence. The Hagia Sophia, however, had originally been built as a basilica, so Sinan had to adapt that architectural plan to the requirements of a mosque. Due to its imposing dimensions, the Süleymaniye Mosque remained the largest in the city until 2019, when it was surpassed by the Çamlıca Grand Mosque.

It is believed that over 3,500 people were involved in constructing the mosque, many of whom were of Armenian origin. Over the years, the impressive religious building was unfortunately damaged and rebuilt several times due to earthquakes, fires and wars. In particular, the mosque was damaged by a fire in 1660 and subsequently partially restored by Sultan Mehmed IV, whilst in 1766 an earthquake caused part of the great dome to collapse, and it was rebuilt with modifications to its original appearance.

During the First World War, the courtyard area served as a weapons storage depot, and it appears that the accidental ignition of some ammunition sparked a fire that damaged part of the building. Subsequently, the mosque underwent several restoration campaigns in the 1950s and 2000s.

Opening Hours of the Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye Mosque is open daily from 9:00 to 17:30, but entry is restricted to tourists during prayer times.

To enter the place of worship, you must remove your shoes and wear appropriate clothing that includes trousers reaching at least the knee; women must also have their shoulders and head covered and should avoid low-cut or overly tight clothing.

How to Reach the Süleymaniye Mosque

You can reach the Süleymaniye Mosque by tram on the T1 line to the Laleli–Üniversite stop, or take the M2 metro line to the Turkish calligraphy art station. For those wishing to reach the mosque on foot from Sultanahmet, it is possible to do so via a pleasant twenty-minute walk that also runs along the Grand Bazaar area.