Sudan Ahmad Mosque
Opposite the Ayasofya Museum stands the six elegant minarets, built by architect Ahmet between 1609 and 1616. The walls inside the mosque are decorated with Iznik ceramics in blue and white, giving it the nickname of the Blue Mosque. In the summer evenings, the mosque is illuminated by different colored lights for a captivating show.
Suleymaniye Mosque, located on the top of a hill in the Golden Horn Bay in Istanbul, is one of the many grand mosques in Turkey. Commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the building was constructed between 1550 to 1557 and is one of the important works of architect Mimar Sinan. The complex includes the mosque, a magnificent inner courtyard, minarets, and cemetery, as well as aspects of city and national significance. Comparable to the mosque of Fatih, it is considered one of the representative works of the early Ottoman architecture. The mosque is located in a courtyard measuring 216 meters long and 144 meters wide, including the inner courtyard, mosque, and four minarets rising 81 meters high. The entire building is based on Euclidean geometry, and the simple interior decoration completely follows the needs of the building. Suleymaniye Mosque is also considered a symbol of paradise, as it is a mosque illuminated by the light of God. The references and inscriptions in the building further strengthen this metaphor. The foundation of the building is strengthened with special cement to support its weight. Through careful selection of stone pillars, Suleymaniye Mosque shares many similarities with the temple of Solomon. The building also reflects the Ottoman Empire's frugal spirit in budget and worship areas.
Al-Faqih Mosque
Built between 1463-1470, the name comes from the outstanding emperor of the Ottoman Empire, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who conquered Istanbul. His mausoleum is still preserved in the mosque. It is worth a visit!
The Ayasofya Mosque is located in the Ayasofya district on the European side of Istanbul, near the Golden Horn and adjacent to the walls of Constantinople. The mosque was first built in 1458 and is one of the earliest mosques built after the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople.
According to local legend, the mosque is adjacent to the tomb of Ayasofya Sultan, a close friend of the Prophet Muhammad, who was buried here when the Arabs conquered Constantinople in 670. This tomb is highly revered by Muslim pilgrims and attracts many worshippers.
The Yeni Camii, also known as the Istanbul New Mosque, was built in 1597 and endured hardships before being completed in 1663. Its design was inspired by the Blue Mosque and the Suleymaniye Mosque, with a huge courtyard and two towering minarets on its sides, a beautiful fountain in the center, and several half-domes surrounding the main dome. Its interior is spacious and adorned with metal leaves, carved marble, and colorful Iznik tiles. Apart from its magnificent decor, it has become a gathering place for pigeons. It represents the highest level of architecture during the Ottoman Empire and is worth a thorough visit.
