Suleymaniye Mosque
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Holy Place,
Religious Experience,
Mosque
You will enter the mosque through an impressive courtyard featuring columns of marble, granite and porphyry and four corner minarets – a number only allowable for a mosque commissioned by a sultan. Constructed as an almost perfect square, the interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque is grand in its simplicity, with basic designs in ivory and mother of pearl and a subtle use of Iznik tiles.
The mosque was designed as part of a larger complex that included a hospital, primary school, a caravanseri, four madrassahs, a medical college and a public kitchen. Two mausoleums stand in the gardens behind the mosque, including the tombs of Suleyman I and his wife, daughter, mother and sister, as well as several other Ottoman sultans.
A fire ravaged the mosque in the 17th century, but it was later restored by Sultan Mehmed IV. An earthquake in 1766 caused part of the dome to collapse and later restorations damaged much of the original decorations inside the mosque. A full restoration was finally completed in the 1950s and further restoration work was completed in 2010.
Latest Reviews
Review by Nick, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Awesome city!
Review by Sean H, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Great for an overview of the city and to get your bearings.
Review by Susan D, April 2013
Doing what: Istanbul Shore Excursion: Istanbul City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
The bus was waiting for us at the cruise terminal and was ready for all weather with a top but no sides upstairs. There was an exciting trip through the city which seemed to truly reflect the way of life there! The commentary advertised other tours which could have been helpful for some visitors. The most useful stop is at the square where the major tourist places are eg The Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, The Archaeological Museum, Topkapi Palace and access to the river trips. This was clearly indicated by the commentary.
