Even though it is now full of skyscrapers, the most impressive part of Istanbul’s silhouette which has been depicted with minarets and domes for hundreds of years is that of the Süleymaniye Mosque. This 452 year old grand monument is Mimar Sinan’s (the founder and greatest representative of Turkish architecture) “headworker period work” – as described in his own words.
The Süleymaniye Mosque forms a grand complex on one of the seven hills of the city, in a 70.000.000 m2 area, with a madrassa, hospital, imaret, cemetary, and various shops. It was built by Mimar Sinan, by order of one of the greatest emperors ever to have lived, Süleyman the Magnificent. The construction of the mosque began in 1550, and it was opened seven years later on the emperor’s request, on August 16th, 1557 by Mimar Sinan.
The Süleymaniye Mosque can be considered an architectural critique of Hagia Sophia, which has been both an inspiration and a challenge to Ottoman architects for hundreds of years. While Mimar Sinan preserved the dome structure of Hagia Sophia, he also used his engineering and design skills to significantly improve upon this foundation.
The tomb of Süleyman and his wife Hürrem Sultan is located in the cemetery in the mosque’s rear courtyard. Some believe that this tomb’s octagonal plan which includes portico’s, which is among the most unique tombs designed by Mimar Sinan, is a reference to the Dome of the Rock. Another interesting aspect of the tomb is that the verdicts of the Chalcedon Ecumenical Council (451) inscribed on stone were taken from Hagia Sophia where they used to reside, and placed upside down on top of the entrance during its construction.
But the aspects which really reflect Sinan’s genious was the acoustic properties he achieved by installing cubes in the dome four hundred years before the holed roof system, a ventilation system which allowed the lamp fumes to be gathered in one room and be used to make ink, and its static durability which prevented it from being damaged by all the earthquakes the city suffered in hundreds of years. Some of these properties which were considered myth until recently are being confirmed one by one with the restoration project that began in 2008, as a part of the 2010 European Capital of Culture preparations.
After you tour the Süleymaniye Mosque and see the tomb of Süleyman and Hürrem Sultan, don’t forget to visit the great architect, who lies in a small tomb in the northwestern corner of this masterpiece. Afterwards, you can stop by Dârüzziyafe in the imaret building and experience the authentic tastes of Ottoman palace cuisine in this building built by Sinan.
Adress: Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cad., Süleymaniye, Fatih
