Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye Mosque is an imperial Ottoman mosque complex in Istanbul, built for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and completed in the mid-16th century under the direction of architect Mimar Sinan. It is one of the major mosques of the classical Ottoman period and forms a large religious and social complex.

The site comprises a large central prayer hall with domes and semi-domes, a surrounding complex of madrasas, a hospital, a cemetery and kitchens that historically served the community. The complex contains the imperial mausoleums of Suleiman and members of his family and is notable for its architectural proportions and urban prominence.

Commissioned by Suleiman in the 1550s and executed by Sinan, the mosque served both religious and charitable functions as part of an integrated külliye. Over subsequent centuries the complex has undergone repairs and restorations while remaining an active place of worship.

Located on Istanbul’s Third Hill in the historic peninsula, the mosque overlooks the Golden Horn and sits within the Fatih district, close to other major historic landmarks.

• Architect and date: Designed by the chief Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and completed in the mid-16th century for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
• Prominent skyline position: Perched on Istanbul's third hill with commanding views across the Golden Horn and the old city, a popular viewpoint for city panoramas.

What to See #

• Main mosque: The central prayer hall of an imperial Ottoman mosque designed with a large central dome and supporting semi-domes.
• Külliye (complex): A complex of auxiliary buildings traditionally forming a külliye, including madrasas, a hospital, a soup kitchen and imperial tombs clustered around the mosque.
• Imperial tombs: Imperial mausoleums containing the tombs of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hürrem Sultan, among other members of the Ottoman dynasty.