Every king does something special to show his power and greatness. Were successive wars and victories alone enough to immortalize Sultan Suleiman’s name? maybe yes But this Ottoman king had another plan to show his power and keep his name alive. Sulaymaniyah Mosque Istanbul was built on one of the city’s seven hills by order of the king, and the terrace behind the mosque offers a breathtaking view of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus Strait.
This mosque was built so that Sultan Suleiman could rule his land even after his death. Do you want to know when this mosque was built and who was in charge of its architecture? In this article, we will tell everything about Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul.
Sulemaniya-Mosque
History of Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul
Planning for the construction of Sulaimaniyah Mosque dates back to the 16th century. This mosque is built on the third hill of Istanbul. Choosing this place can have various reasons.
Perhaps the Sultan wanted to be the absentee ruler of Istanbul after his death. It is even possible that the Sultan wanted to bring the mosque closer to the sky with this method so that prayers would be answered sooner. In any case, the choice of the place to build the mosque was the responsibility of Sultan Suleiman, and God knows what was going through his mind when he built the mosque on the hill.
The foundations of Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul were laid in 1550 and it took seven years to build it until finally in 1557 this great mosque was unveiled and opened.
Choosing the title of the second mosque in Istanbul for Sulaymaniyah Mosque was a worthy thing. Because after Hagia Sophia, this mosque is bigger than all the mosques in the city in terms of area.
This great mosque has experienced many historical events. The great fire of 1660 AD reached Sulaymaniyah Mosque and seriously damaged it. Of course, during the reign of Sultan Mohammad IV, the damaged parts were repaired so that the Sulaymaniyah Mosque continues to shine as a gem among the attractions of Istanbul. Nevertheless, traces of the baroque architectural style could be seen in the mosque as a result of the renovation, which had changed its original design.
The second damage was done to this historic mosque in 1766. This time, the earthquake was determined to turn Sulaymaniyah Mosque into a historical monument whose name is only mentioned in history. The repairs after this earthquake revived the mosque; But its original architecture underwent more serious changes and Sulaymaniyah Mosque was no longer the former mosque.
The serious damage to Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul did not end with these two times. During World War II, the courtyard of the mosque was turned into a place to store weapons and ammunition. With the fire of war ammunition, the third blow was delivered to this amazing building and there was nothing left for the Sulaimaniyah Mosque to be completely destroyed; But architecture lovers revived the Suleymaniye Mosque in 1956 to preserve the historical monuments of Turkey.
In 2013, the Turks opened the Halych Metro Bridge to show the power and ability of this country’s engineers in the field of architecture to the world. Although this beautiful bridge has become an integral part of the list of Turkish attractions and even reached famous Turkish movies, it has caused irreparable damage to the northern face of the mosque. Maybe one day so many modern structures will be built in this place that even the tourists will forget Sulaimaniyah Mosque, the passage of time will clarify the truth or falsity of this thought.
Who is the architect of Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul?
After getting acquainted with the history of Sulaymaniyah Mosque, it is time for the special architecture of this building. You must be interested to know who created this amazing historical work. The design and construction of this historical building was carried out by Mimar Sinan, one of the most famous architects of the 620-year rule of the Ottoman Empire.
Memar Sinan served as an army engineer until he was called by lot and appointed as “Royal Chief Architect”. Sinan maintained this position for 50 years and was the chief architect of the palace during the reign of Sultan Selim II and Sultan Murad III.
Sinan’s hard work and commitment in the field of progress in architecture was well known and many of the most prominent Ottoman historical works were built by him or his students.
Istanbul Sulaymaniyah Mosque
The architectural style and context of Sulaymaniyah Mosque
Sinan has combined Islamic and Byzantine architecture to build Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul. Many parts of this mosque, such as the dome and minarets, are reminiscent of Byzantine churches.
The height of the biggest dome of the mosque is 53 meters and its diameter is 26.5 meters. The dome of this mosque is not the only one and around it there are small domes that are mostly decorative.
Sulaymaniyah Mosque has four 76-meter minarets. Have you ever wondered why there are four minarets? Why three or five or six minarets are not considered for this mosque? The choice of four tall minarets of Sulaymaniyah with ten balconies was not random and just for beauty. Rather, these minarets have a special mystery.
This special design shows that Sultan Suleiman is the 10th Ottoman king, the fourth emperor to sit on the throne after the conquest of Constantinople.
There are three ways to enter Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul. One way is to enter it through the inner courtyard of the mosque. The other two ways are located in the outer courtyard of the mosque. According to your situation, choose the nearest way to enter the mosque.
Sulaymaniyah Mosque, despite its 138 windows, is almost bright and mystical during the day. Of course, these windows are intended more for decoration than lighting the interior of the mosque.
At night, the amount of light in the mosque decreases a lot. The reason for the dimming of the light can be due to the brightness of the mosque’s dimly lit chandeliers. You can use old tricks to brighten the atmosphere of the mosque. You should place and light 275 candles in the designated places as before. This makes the mosque bright as day.
You might think that the smoke of the candles may darken the beautiful designs of the mosque. Don’t worry, Memar Sinan has a special plan for this issue. Above the entrance door, there is a place that sends out all the smoke from burning candles.
The interior architecture of the mosque is simpler than you can imagine. There are no special carvings on the columns. The floor of the mosque and the columns are made of white marble. This simplicity multiplies the grandeur of the mosque, and at first glance, you may even think it is bigger than Hagia Sophia.
As you go further, you can see Iznik tiles around the altar of the mosque. These tiles only adorn this part to distinguish the altar from other parts. Iznik tiles have a white background and a pattern like a stencil flower is constantly repeated in them. The colors used in these tiles are mostly turquoise blue, red and black.
On both sides of the altar, there are large round tiles on which Surah Fatihe of the Quran is written. Despite all this, Sinan has tried to design the altar as simple as possible to be eye-catching.
The interesting thing about this mosque is the acoustic design. Despite this design, the sound of the call to prayer and pre-prayer resonates well in the mosque, and no loudspeaker is needed to play the sound. This particular design at that time brings the sound to all parts of the Great Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul.
Sulemaniya-Mosque
Sulaymaniyah mosque tombs
The day Sultan Suleiman ordered the construction of the Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul, he knew very well that his eternal tomb would be in this place. Perhaps for this reason, Sinan left every stone in the design and construction of the mosque. He wanted even the soul of Sultan Suleiman to rule in the place he deserves.
In the southern area of the mosque, the tombs of Sultan Suleiman and his wife Khorram Sultan and the architect Sinan can be seen. Of course, Sinan’s tomb is separate from the king and his wife and is located on the northwest side of the mosque. The octagonal tomb of Sultan and his wife was built separately.
These tombs are decorated using Iznik tiles, which some consider to be the most valuable souvenirs of Istanbul. This is the first place where emerald green Iznik tiles were used. This color later became one of the popular colors in these tiles and is considered as their common feature.
The graves of other people can be seen in this mosque. The daughter, mother and sister of Sultan Suleiman, Sultan Ahmad II and Sultan Suleiman II are among those buried in Sultan Suleiman Mosque.
Sulaymaniyah Mosque; Part of a large collection
Istanbul’s Suleymaniye Mosque, like other Turkish imperial mosques, is part of a larger complex. A school for teaching religious teachings, a kitchen for all people, a public bath, a caravanserai for resting guests and a hospital are among the important parts of this complex. Those who are planning a trip to Istanbul, can visit the Sultan Suleiman Mosque and see this huge and amazing complex.
What attractions are close to Sulaymaniyah Mosque?
Travel time is short. For this reason, tourists prefer to go to historical monuments that are close to each other. We give you this good news that the time you plan to visit Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul will not be wasted.
This historical mosque is a short distance from the historical places of Istanbul and the famous markets of Istanbul. Rostam Pasha Mosque, Istanbul New Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Grand Bazaar and Istanbul Spice Bazaar are close to this mosque.
After visiting this mosque, you can choose to go shopping or go to other attractions in Istanbul and see them.
You don’t need a vehicle to reach the market or other historical monuments, you can reach your destination by walking for 15 to 30 minutes.
Cozy cafes and restaurants can be seen around the mosque. You can have a glass of Turkish tea to relieve fatigue or treat yourself to a Turkish meal in an old and authentic area.
Sulaymaniyah Mosque, Istanbul
The address of Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul by metro
The closest metro station to Sulaymaniyah Mosque is Vezneciler station. This metro station is located on the south side of the mosque. Of course, there are other vehicles such as taxis and trams to reach this mosque. But due to the crowded area around Sulaimaniye Mosque, we suggest you to choose the metro.
Visiting hours and entrance fee of Sulaymaniyah Mosque
The Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul is open from 9 am to 6 pm and you can visit this historical monument. Of course, the mosque is closed during prayer times. You should arrange the time in such a way that you will be present in this place outside of prayer hours.
Visiting Sulaymaniyah Mosque is free and you don’t need to pay any fees. Of course, to protect this historical monument, financial contributions from tourists and visitors are welcome.
And at the end..
If you are interested in the history of the Ottoman Empire and their architectural style, be sure to plan a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque in your plans for your trip to Istanbul. Of course, seeing this mosque will not be without pleasure for all tourists. Do not forget that you must wear hijab to go to mosques in Türkiye. If you are a lady, bring a long shawl and wear a long-sleeved dress.
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