Süleymaniye Mosque & Complex

Perched majestically upon Istanbul's Third Hill overlooking the Golden Horn, the Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) was commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and built between 1550 and 1557 by the greatest architect of the Ottoman world, Mimar Sinan. The mosque represents the undisputed zenith of classical Ottoman architectural proportion, structural engineering, and spiritual serenity. Inside, the vast central dome rises 53 meters, supported by four massive 'elephant foot' stone piers. Rather than overwhelming ornamentation, Sinan employed restraint, acoustic engineering using hidden hollow clay jars in the dome masonry, and subtle touches of cobalt Iznik tiles around the marble mihrab. The complex (külliye) was designed as a complete social city, including four colleges (madrasas), a hospital, soup kitchen (imaret), medical school, and caravanserais. Behind the qibla wall, tranquil walled rose gardens house the imperial mausoleums of Sultan Suleiman and Hurrem Sultan.