The Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye are the pearls of Istanbul. Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul - a masterpiece of architecture Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul how to get there

Istanbul's Suleymaniye Camii Mosque and the magnificent complex around this majestic structure were built around the mid-16th century. Of course, there was no trace of any construction equipment, cranes or other equipment then, and all work was carried out entirely by hand. The builders worked conscientiously, because everyone knew that the surrounding areas of Istanbul are subject to frequent earthquakes. Ancient architects and builders created their grandiose project taking into account seismic instability, and the result of their work exceeded all imaginable and unimaginable expectations.

The Suleymaniye Mosque has stood in one place for more than 450 years. Moreover, over 4 and a half centuries, this area has been subjected to earthquakes about a hundred times, the strength of which is estimated at 7 points, but the Istanbul shrine continues to delight and delight residents and guests of the Turkish city to this day. And there is no doubt that Suleymaniye is able to withstand another century, as the architect Sinan himself wished, who once uttered the sacramental phrase: “This mosque will stand forever!”

View of the Suleymaniye Mosque

The beautiful Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul is a real architectural masterpiece that arose in the city thanks to the efforts of the great architect Sinan. The construction of a truly majestic and at the same time elegant structure took about 7 years, and for its construction Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent allocated fabulous funds from the state treasury at that time. After all, this is not just one religious building, it is a whole complex of buildings with a total area of ​​4500 square meters. meters, among which there are several madrasahs, baths, an extensive library, a shelter, a hospital building, a kitchen and dining room, and a caravanserai.

The height of the dome of the Suleymaniye Mosque is 53 meters

The Suleymaniye Mosque rises in the middle of a huge flowering garden. Architecturally, it resembles the famous Istanbul Hagia Sophia Cathedral, although they were built almost 1000 years apart. The religious monastery of the great Ottoman padishah Suleiman also has 4 minarets, but the dome is slightly different in structure: Sinan thought of everything in such a way that believers entering the mosque feel as if they are surrounded by streams of light falling directly from heaven. A similar illusion is created with the help of numerous window openings, of which there are 168 in the mosque: 136 windows are located around the perimeter of the building, and 32 windows are built directly into the dome itself.

There are 11 entrances to the architectural complex. There are many large and small fountains scattered throughout the garden, the most famous of which is Shadyrvan. It must be said that this is not just a garden decoration: such a fountain was built specifically for ritual ablutions.

There are 11 entrances to the Suleymaniye Mosque

You can get into the main front courtyard (in front of the mosque) through 3 entrances. The courtyard itself is surrounded by 24 columns, and the portico of the gallery is decorated with 28 domes. In the backyard (behind the mosque), in addition to the above buildings included in the complex, there are trade and craft shops, but the greatest interest among visitors is, of course, the tombs of the padishah himself and his beloved wife Haseki Hurrem Sultan, or the famous Roksolana.

Legends and interesting facts about the Suleymaniye Mosque

A huge number of legends are associated with the Suleymaniye Mosque. One of the legends says that once the ruler of Persia (at that time he and Padishah Suleiman were at the stage of the “cold war”) heard rumors that the construction of the shrine was delayed. Then the Shah decided to mock the Sultan by sending him a gift of a large number of gems, diamonds and other precious stones, hinting at the Ottomans’ lack of funds. Of course, Sultan Suleiman was greatly offended by such a gift and in anger gave the order to wall up all the Persian jewelry in the foundation of one of the minarets.

The view of the Suleymaniye Mosque is mesmerizing

The Suleymaniye Mosque is known for its unrivaled acoustics inside the building. Of course, then no one had heard of electricity, microphones and other sound technologies. But in order to achieve the existing acoustic effect, the architect Sinan came up with a unique “move” by building special resonator jugs into the walls of the Muslim temple. And one interesting legend is also connected with this process.

The legend says: one day it was reported to Sultan Suleiman that his chief architect had completely abandoned construction and was not working on the mosque at all, but was only resting around the clock and smoking nargile. Such disrespect angered the padishah, and he went to the construction site on his own to understand what was happening. Arriving at his destination, Suleiman actually saw the architect sitting right in the middle of the building with a narghile in his hands, but there was no smell of tobacco there. It turned out that Mimar Sinan was simply gurgling water, thereby checking the acoustics within the walls of Suleymaniye and listening carefully to how the sound spread around the perimeter of the shrine. The Sultan was very pleased with what was happening, and the architect calmly continued to work on the project.

Another feature of the mosque is the presence of large ostrich eggs in it. They are hung everywhere between the lamps. It turns out that this way you can scare away spiders and other insects. These representatives of the fauna are really afraid of ostrich eggs!

Suleymaniye is the largest and most extensive Muslim temple in Istanbul. The building can easily accommodate 5 thousand parishioners at once. When the construction was completed, Mimar Sinan uttered the sacramental phrase: “This mosque will stand forever!” And time has shown that his words were prophetic.

Tombs of Suleiman and Roksolana

Tomb of Sultan Suleiman

In the backyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque, several noble persons rest, but the central cemetery tombs are, of course, considered to be the tombs of Suleiman the Great and his wife, a native of Ukraine Roksolana, who was named Hurrem after converting to Islam.

The padishah's tyurbe (tomb) is an octagonal building, topped with a massive dome and surrounded by stately marble columns. The columns serve as support for the pointed arches, and in tandem they create a single covered gallery. The inside of the building is very bright. The walls are lined with marble tiles in discreet shades. Also in the interior you can find several elements made of ebony, inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl.

Roksolana's grave

The tomb of Hurrem Sultan is located next to the tomb of her husband. It is known that the Sultan’s beloved died before the ruler himself. Suleiman the Great was never able to come to terms with this loss, and ordered the construction of a turbe in memory of Hurrem. This happened a year after Roksolana’s death, and before that the coffin was kept inside the mosque itself.

The octagon shape is traditional for tombs of that time. The mausoleum was built of stone, and along its entire perimeter there are two rows of window openings.

The interior decoration of the tomb includes exquisite antique tiles and porcelain tiles, some of which are engraved with poetic lines.

Today, inside the tomb you can see not only the coffin of Roksolana herself, but also the coffins of other members of the ruler’s family. In particular, the daughter of Hatice Sultan (sister of Suleiman), as well as the son of Selim II, Mehmed, are buried here.

Interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque

Interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque

The inside of the religious monastery seems even more majestic than the outside. The mosque can simultaneously accommodate up to 5 thousand people. The length of the structure is 63 meters and its width is 60 meters. The dome is at a height of 61 meters, but when viewed from the inside, it seems endless. This effect was created, as already mentioned, with the help of many window openings. Through them, the mosque is illuminated during the day, and in the evening a chic chandelier serves as a light source. Previously, it was a candle lamp, but today candles have been replaced by modern light bulbs, stylized as antique.

Dome of the Suleymaniye Mosque

The famous calligrapher of those times, Hasan Chelebi, took part in painting the walls of the mosque. His hands created patterns and inscriptions of incredible beauty and grace. The interior of the mosque is also decorated with exquisite stained glass compositions. The combination of thin colored glass and marble, from which the minbar and mihrab are made, looks luxurious!

Mosaic in Suleymaniye Mosque

Of course, Istanbul can be confidently called the “city of mosques,” but none of the religious monasteries can still compare with the Suleymaniye complex in either its grandeur, endurance, or beauty!

Suleymaniye Mosque: how to get there and opening hours

Unlike other popular historical sites, the Suleymaniye Mosque is located at a distance from the Sultanahmet area. To get there, from Sultanahmet Square you need to take the T1 tram and get to the Laleli-University stop. Then, guided by the minarets of the mosque, you can walk there (it is located on a hill and the minarets will be visible).

From Eminonu Square (which is located next to the Eminonu pier) it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the mosque.

Opening hours of the Sulaymaniye Mosque: weekdays and weekends (except Fridays) from 09:00-18:00, excluding prayer hours.

Just like in, traditional prayers are performed here, so Sulaymaniye is open to tourists with breaks. Before entering, you will need to remove your shoes and women will need to put a scarf on their heads. Wearing open clothes may not allow entry.

Suleymaniye Mosque on the map

Every tourist who has visited Istanbul should visit this mosque. It combines the history, traditions and faith of the Turkish people. Here you can find out all the basic information about it.

Suleymaniye Mosque: history and architecture

The Sultan Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul and the beautiful structures near this building were built around the middle of the 16th century. All work was carried out only by hand. The workers did their job responsibly, as they knew that earthquakes were common in the city. The architects and construction workers of that time made this huge structure taking into account seismic activity.

The Suleiman Mosque in Istanbul is over 450 years old. Over 4.5 centuries, there were earthquakes in this area 89 times, which are estimated at 7 points, but the building survived. Undoubtedly, it will stand for many years, as the creator of this miracle, Sinan, himself wanted.

Sulaymaniyah Mosque in Istanbul is an architectural masterpiece created by the efforts of architect Sinan. The construction of this majestic and beautiful complex lasted 7 years. Sultan Suleiman spent unprecedented amounts of money on the construction of this mosque in Turkey.

In 1660, the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul burned down in a strong fire. But Sultan Mehmed IV issued a decree to recreate the unique structure. This business was run by a man named Fossati. He introduced some changes to the external appearance of the building, characteristic of the Baroque style. But during the First World War, her yard was turned into a warehouse for guns and ammunition until there was an explosion and a big fire. Restoration work was completed in 1956. The last time the building was renovated was in 2010.

This is an ensemble of buildings with an area of ​​4500 square meters. m, among them are:

• baths;
• library;
• shelter;
• clinic;
• dining room;
• There is a madrasah around the garden.

In front of the courtyard there is a huge structure made of white stone - a caravanserai, where guests had the opportunity to receive shelter and dine without paying for 3 days.

The mosque is surrounded by a large garden. It is similar to the famous Istanbul temple Hagia Sophia, created 1000 years earlier. It has 4 more minarets, but the dome is different: Sinan wanted the people in the mosque to feel as if light from heaven was shining on them. Visibility is formed by a large number of windows, of which there are 168 in the mosque: 136 windows are located around the structure, and 32 windows are located in the dome itself.

You can get inside the courtyard through 11 entrances. There are a lot of small and medium-sized fountains in the garden, one of which is Shadyrvan. It should be noted that this was not done for beauty; they were erected for ritual ablutions.

Architecture

You can enter the main courtyard through 3 entrances. There are 24 columns around the courtyard, and the portico is transformed into a unique 28 domes. In the back yard, in addition to the buildings listed above, there are shops of traders and artisans.

In Islamic religious architecture there are 3 main styles: Iranian (Taj Mahal), Arabic (Dome of the Mountain) and Turkish, the main standard of which is this Suleymaniye Mosque

It is very laconic and does not overwhelm with its size due to its perfect shape.

Additional Information! In fact, every part of this unusual old building is symbolic. The 4 minarets symbolize the reign of Suleiman when he was the 4th Sultan of Istanbul. The 10 balconies on them mean that he was tenth in the dynasty. The dome is supported, among other things, by 4 pilasters, which are signs of 4 Islamic caliphs. The height of the central dome is 48.5 m, and the diameter is 27.25 m. The length of the building is 63 m, width is 60 m.

In the center of the front courtyard there is a marble quadrangular building similar to the Holy Kaaba.

Suleiman I himself washed in the hamam at the mosque, created by Sinan; later only residents of the mosque used it. After the renovations were completed, they decided to make the hammam open to everyone.

Important! Now the mosque is operational, services are held here once a day. It can immediately accommodate up to 5,000 people.

The dome is supported by 4 columns (pilasters) and there are 2 arcades on 2 granite columns. Each of the 4 minarets has 10 balconies (“sherefe”).

Painting colors: black, black-red, gold, and not the blue now used for such work.

There are buildings inside the complex where those who are not Muslims cannot enter, as written on the signs.

At the back there is a cemetery where authoritative persons and nobility are buried.

Istanbul is called the “metropolis of mosques,” but the most magnificent of them is undoubtedly the Suleymaniye Mosque, the best in Turkey.

Legends and interesting facts about the Suleymaniye Mosque

There are many legends about the mosque. The first of them says that the ruler of Persia first learned that the construction of the mosque had slowed down. The Shah decided to give the Sultan a lot of gems and diamonds as a gift, as if to help with the construction of the shrine. Sultan Suleiman was angry, and in a rage gave an order to put all the precious stones from Persia into the foundation of the building of one of the minarets.

In Istanbul, the Suleymaniye Mosque has excellent acoustics inside the building. To achieve the desired result, Sinan came up with a unique solution by walling up special resonator jugs in the walls of the temple.

One day they reported to Sultan Suleiman how his architect did not go to construction sites at all, but only rested all day long and smoked nargile. The padishah became angry and went there to understand what was happening there. Suleiman really noticed the architect who was sitting there with a nargile in his hands. Mimar Sinan blew into the water, creating bubbles, to test the sound in the walls of the mosque, listening intently to its propagation. The Sultan listened to him and praised him for his diligence. The architect continued to work with sound.

Aggressive and powerful, the Sultan is known not only for the many battles in which he became the winner. He is also known for his tender love for one of his wives, the lovely Hurrem Sultan, whom the world remembers as Roksolana. There is a legend that she is from Ukraine, her father was a priest and her name was Alexandra Lisovskaya. She was captured by the Crimean Tatars during a raid. They presented her to Sultan Suleiman as a concubine.

Another highlight of the building is the presence of large ostrich eggs everywhere between the lamps. As it turns out, it’s possible to scare spiders this way.

Tombs of Suleiman and Roksolana

In the middle of the backyard there are 2 huge tombs (turbe). In the first of them, lavishly decorated with paintings and stone carvings, lies Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Next to him, in a smaller tomb, rests the Sultan’s wife, Haseki Hurrem Sultan. There are also the coffins of 3 padishahs, 2 sultans and Suleiman’s daughter Mikhriman.

Tombs

The inside of Khyurrem's mausoleum is covered with clay tiles, which depict the Garden of Eden, as well as the words of poems that Khyurrem adored. The tomb is made of octagonal stone, and along it there are 2 rows of openings for windows. She died before him. Suleiman the Magnificent never came to terms with the loss, and in memory of Hurrem he created a turbe.

Behind the main building, near its wall, is the tomb of Sinan, which he personally built.

Interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque

The building is better inside than outside. The dome inside seems endless. This effect is created by a large number of windows. In the evening there is a chandelier. Previously it had candles, now instead there are innovative light bulbs.

The walls were painted by Hassan Celebi. The mosque is decorated with unique stained glass windows by master Ibrahim.

If you enter from the south side you can see “cellular” carpets. Acoustics of the building after renovation in 2010. was violated.

The hall is decorated with various designs, patterns, and records from the Koran.

The main dome is placed on powerful pillars. To ensure the strength of this main system, particularly light and strong bricks were used.

Sinan made a structure with holes in the wall at the top; soot particles fell into it. Their soot was then used to make ink.

Suleymaniye Mosque: how to get there and opening hours

The mosque opens once a day for those who decide to come to Istanbul and see Sulaymaniyah.

It is possible to get to it, but to do this you need to take the T1 tram from Sultanahmet Square to the Laleli-Institute stop. Next go on foot. The minarets of the mosque can serve as a reference point. You can reach it in 10 minutes. It is recommended to use a map.

The mosque is open: on weekdays and weekends (not counting Fridays) from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 13.45 p.m. until 15.45

Important! Before entering, you must take off your shoes and ladies must put on a headscarf.

You can find out all the main information about the best mosque in Turkey, but knowing is not the same as seeing. You have to see it with your own eyes, which is what many people from all over the world do every year.

This mosque is one of the symbols of the apogee of the Ottoman Empire and one of the most outstanding masterpieces of the most famous architect of Istanbul - Sinan. This huge complex, built in 1557 without any cranes, bulldozers, computer modeling or modern building materials, amazes not only with its architectural forms and elements, but also with the use of technologies that have made it possible to survive 89 (!!!) serious earthquakes over 450 years force more than 7 points on the Richter scale.

But Sinan, opening the mosque, said, “This mosque will stand forever.” And while his words are confirmed by reality...
The mosque itself is located in the old part of the city, in the Vefa district (part of the Fatih district).
In fact, this is a huge complex consisting of a mosque itself with four minarets, bath buildings, madrassas (educational institutions), kitchens, libraries and an observatory. The dimensions of the entire complex are comparable in size to a modern city block.


The height of the dome of the mosque is 53 meters, the diameter is 26.5 meters, which is superior in height, but inferior in width to the Byzantine Church of Hagia Sophia, located a few kilometers from Suleymaniye.
Despite the fact that this is the largest mosque in Istanbul, it is considered second in importance after the Sultan Ahmet Mosque.


Sinan built the Suleymaniye Mosque on the orders of the 10th Ottoman padishah, Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver, who reigned between 1520-1566. Construction of the mosque, begun in 1550, was completed in 1557. During the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver, the Ottoman Empire experienced its heyday and reached the apogee that the Byzantine Empire reached during the years of Justinian. It is interesting that Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver began the construction of this mosque only on the 30th anniversary of his accession to the throne.


The layout of the mosque is largely reminiscent of Hagia Sophia, built in a significantly monumental and lavish manner. Exactly 1,000 years later, Hagia Sophia served Sinan as the architectural model for a mosque built in honor of another Suleiman, Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver.
It is interesting that both temples, between which there is a gap of 10 centuries, are united by the fact that they were built at the peak of power, wealth and enlightenment of two different empires - Byzantine and Ottoman.
The front courtyard, located in the western part of the mosque, has 3 entrances. The courtyard is surrounded by 24 marble columns (10 white, 12 pink, 2 porphyry). The gallery's portico is decorated with 28 domes.
In the center of the front courtyard, a quadrangular marble structure resembles the Holy Kaaba.
The huge dome of the mosque is supported by four wide pilasters on the east and west. On the north and south sides there are two large arcades supported by two red granite columns. One of these columns was brought from the Ljubljana Temple of Zeus (Baalbek), the second from Alexandria, the third from the Istanbul Mosque, located near Suleymaniye, the fourth column from the vicinity of Topkapi Palace. The columns are supposed to symbolize the four Islamic caliphs.


Painting of one of the domes of the portico. Only three primary colors were used, with which all Istanbul mosques were painted in the Middle Ages - black, wine red and gold.


The area of ​​the city of Vefa, which belonged to non-Muslims in the 16th century, was located on the third of 7 hills, on a slope overlooking Khalich. Sinan called this mosque “My brainchild” and built it in the very center of the garden. In front of the façade of the mosque there is a courtyard covered with a portico, and inside the courtyard there are two turbes of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver and his wife Hurrem.
The mosque building has four minarets with 10 sherefes (balconies on the minaret). The four minarets built by Sinan indicate the four padishahs (after the conquest of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver), and the 10 balconies on the minaret indicate the 10 sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Another legend about these famous minarets is the semi-legendary story about the precious stones (emerald, ruby, diamond) that the Persian Shah Tahmasib sent to Sultan Suleiman with an open hint that he did not have enough funds to complete the construction, the Sultan was angry with the Shah and ordered Sinan to place precious stones in the foundation of one of the minarets.


There is an ancient cemetery in the backyard of the mosque. The flat cobblestone paths are always crowded. And this is not at all surprising...


The fact is that various influential persons and palace nobility are buried in this cemetery. And, of course, for each deceased person his own personal gravestone was made. Some of them are real masterpieces. So this old cemetery actually became a unique open-air museum of gravestones.


There is a lot to see here - fine stone carvings that are many hundreds of years old, ornate Arabic writing, unusual stone fezzes, flowers and ornaments...


Several ancient funeral slabs


But the most important burials in this cemetery are two mausoleums - Suleiman himself and his beloved wife, the famous Roksolana, who was the daughter of a Russian priest and became the mother of the subsequent padishah Selim 2.
The mausoleum (turbe) of Suleiman is located in the very center of the cemetery and it is much more magnificent than the mausoleum of his wife.


Inside the turbe of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver there are 8 tombs, three of them belong to the padishahs. Two other Ottoman sultans are also buried here - Sultan Ahmed 2nd and Sultan Suleiman 2nd. The tomb of the daughter of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver, Mikhriman, is also located here.


Here again it is worth paying attention to the painting of the domes and vaults: it was with such bright colors - black, wine-red and gold - that the inside of Istanbul mosques were once painted, differing from the bluish-brown pale arabesques that we often see now.

The walls of the mosque are decorated with Iznik ceramic slabs, which are replete with artistic elements and carvings.


Turbe dome edging. Here, every element is thought out and carved from stone with special care.
Let me remind you that there were no milling machines or 3D modeling back then. Everything was done by hand by craftsmen.


In the farthest corner of the cemetery, opposite Suleiman’s mausoleum, there is the mausoleum of his wife, Haseki Hurrem, known as Roksolana. She took a close part in state affairs and was the beloved wife of Suleiman the Lawgiver.
The most educated woman of her time, Hurrem Haseki Sultan received foreign ambassadors, answered letters from foreign rulers, influential nobles and artists. On her initiative, several mosques, a bathhouse and a madrasah were built in Istanbul.
She died on April 15 or 18, 1558 due to a long illness or poisoning. A year after her death, Roksolana’s body was placed in this mausoleum. The inside is decorated with exquisite Iznik ceramic tiles depicting the Garden of Eden, as well as the text of poems, perhaps in honor of her smile and cheerful character.
There is an assumption that inside the tomb of Hurrem there is also the coffin of Hanim Sultan, daughter of Hatice Sultan, sister of Suleiman.


By the way, very close to the mausoleums of Suleiman and his wife Roksolana, there is another burial that deserves special attention. It is also considered part of the Suleiman Mosque complex, but is located not in the cemetery, but behind the fence of the complex, at the intersection of modern streets Mimar Sinad cad. and Fetva Yokusu sok.
This is the tomb of the architect Sinan himself. Modest, but a masterpiece of architecture and stone carving, the tomb is open to access only once a year, on the day of “Memory of Sinan” (April 9). With its modesty and location in the very corner of the magnificent complex, it resembles Sinan’s autograph, which he placed under his own masterpiece.
This outstanding architect, who lived and worked in 1490-1588, was the chief court architect of five Ottoman padishahs, and during his 50-year creative life, Sinan built about 400 architectural monuments. It is interesting that Sinan came to Istanbul as a 22-year-old youth to serve in the Janissary corps. After 19 years of Janissary service, he showed brilliant abilities in architecture and he became the most famous court architect of the Ottoman Empire.
It is interesting that out of the 400 structures built by Sinan, it is also located in Crimea. This is the Juma-Jami mosque in Evpatoria


But let's return to the mosque. Today it can accommodate more than 5,000 believers simultaneously under its huge dome. If you want to visit the Suleiman Mosque, there are a few things to know.
Firstly, it is open to the public every day from 9.00 to 17.30. Except for prayer time!!! If you came not to pray, but as a tourist, you need to enter not through the main entrance, but through the side one, as indicated by a special sign. Non-Muslims are prohibited from entering during prayer. Unfortunately, it was during prayer that we filmed this magnificent complex, and we were unable to get inside the mosque.

The entrance to the courtyard from the outside of the complex is through 11 gates. There are built-in fountains on the southern wall of the mosque, which are used for ritual ablution before prayer.


The courtyard with fountains is quite large and there are many fountains. Indeed, during the most significant Muslim holidays, a huge number of people often gather here. More than 5,000 believers can be in the mosque at the same time. On such days, during prayer, each person praying has an area of ​​approximately 1 square meter. m. When I took this photo, I noticed one feature - grimy beggar boys were hanging around the fountains with might and main, hunting for small change.


It would seem that what’s surprising? In fact, in Istanbul, you notice one peculiarity. Turkish boys do not beg in any literal sense or form. They “sell” paper hand napkins for 1 lira, which cost almost nothing in bulk. All the beggars who are simply begging for money are Syrians and representatives of other Arab nations. Moreover, these are not only children, but often women - alone or with children wrapped in rags.
You will not see Turkish female beggars, or even adult beggars of non-Arab appearance, in Istanbul.


But a mosque and a cemetery with mausoleums are not all that Sinan built in this complex.
Around the garden, Sinan built a huge Suleymaniye madrasah. This madrasah (mosque school) resembles an independent town surrounding the architectural complex of the mosque. Opposite the complex, on the opposite side of the road, there are madrassas: Evvel (First) and Sani (Second); and on the other side of the mosque, on a slope overlooking Halich Salis (Third) and Rabi (Fourth).


Right in front of the mosque courtyard you can see a large building covered with domes. This is also part of the complex and in the past it was a caravanserai, where visiting merchants were fed free lunches for three days, and now one of the best restaurants of national cuisine is located here - Daruzziyafe.

In general, it must be said that during four days in Istanbul, I saw a lot of restaurants that were located in various historical places - caravanserais, various dungeons, cisterns, excavated castles, etc.


Like many similar Istanbul establishments located on site or right inside historical monuments, there is a small museum for visitors.
In addition to the premises of the former caravanserai, which was carefully restored under the supervision of specialist historians, there are several interesting exhibits. This is a millstone that was used to grind flour 500 years ago...


And this is a stone storage box for grain or flour.


The hollow, almost dead tree dates back to the times when Sinan built the Suleymaniye complex. This tree remembers Sinan, and ordinary builders, and many more people who stood near it over these 450 years.


Tables for guests under domes painted in the same classic colors - black, wine red and gold


And again I look under the dome, raising my head


Even at the end of January, the garden around the Suleymaniye Mosque is green and spacious.


During the busy tourist season, the streets surrounding the Suleymaniye complex are filled with tourist buses, crowds of visitors and merchants. In the shops (built, by the way, at the same time as the mosque) in our time they sell souvenirs, but in the time of Suleiman they sold opium.


A few final photos. View of the Suleymaniye complex from one of the surrounding rooftops.


And this is a view of the mosque from the wall of Istanbul University.


An ablution fountain that is over 500 years old and water that can flow forever….

In recent years, Türkiye has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for Russians. And this is not surprising, since this country miraculously combines modern technology and originality, coupled with excellent service and developed infrastructure. At the same time, there are places in this Muslim state that are worth mentioning separately. One of these pilgrimage points is Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. We’ll talk about it in more detail in the article.

Brief information

The Suleymaniye Mosque, which dates back more than one century, was built between 1550 and 1557 under the leadership of the famous architect Sinan of that era. Old manuscripts tell us that this religious building was built by 3,523 workers, most of whom were devout Muslims. During the construction process, 96,360 gold coins and almost 83,000 silver coins were spent. All the precious stones and columns for the mosque were brought from different parts of the vast Ottoman Empire. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered the construction of the mosque to begin in the 30th year of his reign. At the same time, initially, according to the architect’s idea, this Muslim shrine was supposed to be similar to the Church of Hagia Sophia, but surpass it in size and splendor of decoration. On the day of the grand opening of the mosque after the completion of construction, the architect uttered a historical phrase: “This mosque will stand forever!”

Scandal

Due to the fact that the construction of the mosque lasted seven long years, the Sultan was extremely dissatisfied and furious. And he was especially angry when they sent him a casket filled with jewelry as a gift. The gift, by the way, was from his worst enemy, the Persian Khan. There was a subtle hint in the language that the Turkish ruler was so poor and weak that he was not able to complete the construction of the mosque. Enraged, the Sultan, in front of numerous witnesses, distributed emeralds and diamonds to market visitors. After that, no one dared to anger the ruler in this way.

Restoration

Unfortunately, in 1660, Suleymaniye (a mosque in Istanbul that annually receives hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world) was almost destroyed by a huge fire. But the Turkish ruler issued an order to restore the historical and religious monument. The restoration process was led by a man named Fossati. He made some changes to the appearance of the building, giving it features characteristic of the European Baroque style.

In the 19th century, the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, the photo of which is given below, again regained its original appearance. However, during the First World War, the courtyard of the Muslim shrine was used as a large warehouse for storing weapons and ammunition. At a certain moment it all exploded and another fire occurred. Restoration work after this emergency was completed only in 1956. The last current renovation was carried out in 2010.

Appearance

Suleymaniye is a mosque in Istanbul, which looks at It is rightfully ranked among the most striking attractions of the Turkish capital. The Muslim temple is very similar to Hagia Sophia. The mosque is located on one of Istanbul's seven famous hills. The dimensions of the building are impressive:

• Length - 59 meters.
• Width - 58 meters.
• The height of the main dome is 53 meters.
• The diameter of the main dome is 27 meters.

You can enter the Suleymaniye Mosque (the tomb of Roksolana is also located here, next to the graves of the Sultan and their daughter Mihrimah) through three entrances. One of them is located on the side of the courtyard, and the remaining two are located on the outside courtyard.

Near the northern wall of the mosque you can find Sinan's tomb, which was designed and built by him personally. There is also a now popular restaurant in the temple courtyard. Its name is Daruzziyafe. Its prices cannot be called cheap, but the quality of food and wide selection of dishes can satisfy the needs of many gourmets.

The entire perimeter of the Muslim religious building was surrounded by shopping shops, which were built at the same time as the building. By the way, during the time of Suleiman himself, opium was openly sold in these outlets. These days you can buy a variety of sweets and souvenirs here, but ice cream, baklava and roasted chestnuts are especially popular.

Interior

Despite its impressive size, the mosque has a minimalist interior. At the same time, the interior decor and inscriptions are truly an aesthetic miracle.

There are carpets on the floor of the Muslim temple, and not very large chandeliers shine dimly and give visitors a good idea of ​​the era when everything inside was illuminated by candles, the total number of which could reach 4000. The hall of the building has excellent acoustics and is decorated with various floral patterns, geometric patterns, inscriptions from the Koran.

There are also four huge monumental columns inside. The master brought one of them from Baalbek, the second from Alexandria, and the remaining two came to the mosque from the palaces of the capital of the Byzantine era. The room has 138 window openings through which sunlight penetrates inside. If necessary, you can light oil lamps, which during the combustion process emit soot, which is subsequently used to prepare ink.

A dome mounted on four minarets is installed above the central hall of the building. Particularly lightweight bricks were used for this construction.

The four minarets are a symbol of Suleiman being the fourth ruler of Istanbul, and the ten balconies symbolize his place in his dynasty.

It should also be understood that Muslim countries have their own characteristics, and Turkey is no exception. The Suleymaniye Mosque is a striking example in this regard. Inside it there are specially designated rooms for women, built in the form of a gallery.

The bathhouse located on the territory of the mosque still functions today. You can relax and spend time there for 35 euros. The bathhouse is mixed, and only couples are allowed into it; singles are not allowed to enter.

In 1985, the mosque was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list, and therefore it is protected by international law.

Power and strength

The Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul was built using bricks that were connected to each other using iron brackets. In addition, all this was filled with molten lead. Due to this, the building of the Muslim shrine is very strong and durable. And these are not just words, because the mosque was able to survive several very severe earthquakes without damage. In general, over the entire history of the temple, 89 such natural disasters occurred.

Peculiarities

The second most visited place in Istanbul today is the Suleymaniye Mosque. The tomb of Roksolana and Suleiman played a significant role in this. The thing is that it was on the territory of this temple that these two great men were buried. Moreover, their graves are a real work of art, which tourists from all over the world come to see. One cannot ignore the following characteristic features of the mosque:

• The temple complex is comparable in size to a residential city block. 10,000 people can be inside the main building at a time.
• Inside the mosque there is a specially built pavilion in which Sultan Suleiman devoted himself to prayer, without hiding from his subjects.
• The building's excellent acoustics are due to the presence of 256 hollow bricks, the size of which is 45 x 16 centimeters. It is they who play the role of resonators, due to which the imam’s voice is clearly audible in all directions.
• Burning candles in a mosque do not create soot.

Visiting rules

A person who wants to get inside a historical and religious building must comply with certain requirements, namely:

• It is strictly forbidden to enter the mosque wearing T-shirts and shorts.
• You are not allowed to enter the shrine wearing shoes; they must be removed and left near the entrance or carried in your hands in a bag.
• A woman must cover her head and hands.
• The mobile phone must be turned off.
• You cannot make noise or behave unrestrainedly in the temple.
• A man is forbidden to move to the female half, which is often fenced off with a special carved lattice.
• Video filming and photography in the mosque is allowed, but it is prohibited to film people praying, as well as people in the process of ablution before entering the temple.
• Entrance to the Muslim Cathedral is free, but any voluntary donation will be greatly appreciated.
• Directly during prayers - Muslim services - the entrance to the mosque is closed for tourists.

Operating mode

Many fans of the series “The Magnificent Century” would like to see with their own eyes the famous Topkapi Palace, the Suleymaniye Mosque and the tomb of Roksolana and Suleiman. The photographs of these objects are undoubtedly beautiful, but they do not allow one to fully appreciate the atmosphere of that era. If the opportunity arises, be sure to visit these attractions. The mosque operates according to the following schedule:

• From Tuesday to Saturday - from 9:00 to 17:30.
• Monday and Friday - the temple is closed.

The best time for tourist visits to the shrine is from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 13:45 to 15:45.

Location

The Suleymaniye Mosque, the address of which is given in this article, is a huge complex that includes a kitchen for the poor, a hospital, an infirmary, 6 schools, a mental hospital, and a madrasah.

The Muslim temple is located in the Istanbul district called Eminonu, which, in turn, is 20 kilometers from Ataturk Airport.

Those who want to see the mosque must first get to the indicated area, and then walk up the mountain, in parallel seeing the Egyptian Bazaar and the Rustem Pasha Mosque. You can also take the tram to the main entrance of İstanbul Üniversitesi University and then walk about 500 meters around the building on the right side.

It is important to know that no type of public transport approaches directly to the mosque itself, so you will still have to walk a certain part of the route (about 5-10 minutes).

The exact address of the mosque is as follows: Süleymaniye Mah., Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar cad. No:1, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul.

Double

There is another Suleymaniye Mosque in Turkey. Alanya is the city where this ancient religious Muslim building is located. The mosque was built in 1231 by order of the then ruling Aladdin Keykubat. However, after some time the structure began to deteriorate and eventually collapsed. But in the 16th century, Sultan the Lawgiver breathed a second life into the mosque. The temple received one minaret. The structure itself has a square shape, and all wooden elements are decorated with elegant carvings. The main dome of the mosque is designed in the form of a hemisphere and painted dark green.

This Muslim shrine is very interesting because it is endowed with a distinctive feature. The architects of those times wanted the building to have excellent acoustics, and therefore, to bring the idea to life, they resorted to a little trick, which was to hang 15 small balls under the dome of the mosque.

In addition to the temple, in the courtyard of the mosque there is a palace, a school and military buildings. Also nearby, on the mountain, is a Byzantine fortress, which is also a striking landmark, not only of Alanya itself, but of all of Turkey as a whole.

Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent

Thirteen great mosques became the architectural masterpieces of the Ottoman Empire, and among them is Suleymaniye Cami, built by order of Suleiman the Magnificent. The period of greatness and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire is associated with the name of this sultan. He extended his campaigns to the whole of Hungary, besieged Vienna, and successfully fought with Persia; The Turkish fleet dominated under Sultan Suleiman on the seas as far as Spain and the Indian Ocean. He patronized the architect Kaji Sinan, who glorified his art and the reign of Suleiman with many mosques erected in all parts of the empire, hundreds of chapels, palaces and bridges. For Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the architect of Sinai built a mosque, considered one of the most beautiful in Istanbul. It was erected from materials from the Church of St. Euphemia of Chalcedon on the territory of the most ancient Sultan's palace, which has not survived to this day.

The construction of the mosque (its dimensions are 69 x 63 m) lasted seven whole years and ended only in 1557. The Sultan wanted the mosque being built to become a kind of monument to his magnificent reign, so he was very dissatisfied with the very delayed construction. There is information that he more than once made it clear to the architect Sinan that he risked ending his days like the architect Ayaz, whom Sultan Mehmed II executed for the too slow construction of one of the buildings. There was even a moment when Sultan Suleiman decided to interrupt the construction of the mosque altogether, but then, as often happens, “His Majesty chance” came to the rescue. The famous Turkish historian and writer E. Celebi talks about it like this:

“The Iranian Shah Tahmasp sent rich gifts to the Sultan, among which was a casket with precious stones. “I heard that you do not have enough strength to complete the mosque and therefore you decided not to build it anymore,” the Shah wrote. - Based on our friendship, I am sending you these gifts and stones. Use them as you wish, but still try to finish what you started, and in this way I will contribute my share to your pious work.”

Sultan Suleiman was furious, regarding these gifts and the letter as a mockery. In the presence of the ambassadors of the Iranian Shah, he distributed gifts to the capital's merchants, and handed the casket with jewelry to the architect and said: “These shining stones, which are supposedly considered expensive, have no price next to the simple stones of my mosque.”

Gifts from the Iranian Shah decorated the edges and rosettes of one of the minarets that were being built, which began to be called “Precious”. However, according to historians, such colossal sums were spent on the construction of the mosque that all of it can be called “precious.”

Suleymaniye Cami is located on the top of a hill overlooking the Golden Horn Bay, and therefore the best way to view this mosque is from the Galata Bridge. Then you can see how a long gallery of columns with arches runs along the facade. The mosque consists of inner and outer courtyards and a prayer hall under a dome. Its monumental doors are skillfully crafted panels with geometric patterns, which in some places are lined with mother-of-pearl. These doors never open completely, but they do have a smaller entrance covered by a leather curtain.

In the center of the mosque rises a large dome 71 m high (6 m higher than the dome of Hagia Sophia).

Black balls hang under the central dome - these are ostrich eggs. They have no religious significance, but were used to protect against spiders, which were repelled by their smell. To prevent cobwebs in the huge hall of the mosque, the eggs were changed every year (after they dried).

Since in the 16th century. There was no electricity yet; the mosque was illuminated by hundreds of oil lamps. The burning oil produced a lot of smoke, and a lot of soot accumulated under the dome.

In the niche above the door, the architect Sinan made small windows through which flakes of soot were drawn into the next room. Nowadays, the huge chandelier, made of wood and wrought iron, consists of many lamps in which electric bulbs are inserted.

The walls inside the mosque are decorated with writing from the famous calligrapher Hassan (from Karahissari). Since up to 5,000 people gathered in the mosque during prayers, the humidity from their breath was very high. Due to dampness, the walls were constantly covered with a coating, from which the best ink was made in those days.

Suleymaniye Jami

Four huge square marble pillars support the main dome above the giant ship-nave. Once upon a time, one of these columns stood near the Church of the Holy Apostles, and on it stood an allegorical statue of “Virginity”. With great difficulty they later transported this column to the mosque that was being built, but it turned out to be higher than the other pillars and had to be shortened. Between the pillars on each side there are side galleries, intended for tall persons and supported by marble pillars. Two staircases built at the entrance door lead to the first gallery, and you can go upstairs along wooden stairs that are placed against the windows overlooking the roof.

Each window of the mosque is crowned with a lancet tympanum, decorated with beautiful tiles, on which verses from the Koran are applied in Arabic.

The mihrab in Suleymaniye Jami is made of marble, carved with magnificent stalactites with gilding. On both sides, the mihrab is decorated with large faience rosettes, on which verses of the Koran are carved in white script on a blue background. Above the mihrab are stained glass windows; they also decorate the eastern wall of the mosque. The pieces of glass that make them up are held together with goat hair threads and egg whites, and plaster was used to make the frames. These masterpieces were created by master Ibrahim, nicknamed Serkhash (“Drunkard”).

The minbar, located to the right of the mihrab, is also made of large pieces of marble, as is the tribune for the Sultan, made of white marble. It is supported by porphyry columns with marble capitals. The door of this podium, like many other doors of the mosque, is made of walnut and decorated with geometric rosettes. The pulpit, located near the emperor's rostrum, was also made of walnut wood, very skillfully carved and processed.

In front of the main door inside the mosque there is a solid round porphyry slab with a diameter of about two meters. Legend says that a Greek mason working on the construction of the mosque secretly carved a small cross on this stone, which was intended for the mihrab. The Sultan became terribly angry and ordered the master to be executed, and the porphyry column, as no longer suitable for the mihrab, to be placed in front of the entrance to the main nave, turning the side with the cross towards the ground.

The outer courtyard of Suleymaniye Cami (190 x 130 m) is lined with giant plane trees and cypress trees. Four minarets rise at the corners of the courtyard; two of them, adjacent to the mosque, have three balconies; on the other two (they are slightly lower) - two each. A separate staircase leads to each balcony; inside the minaret they do not intersect with each other, so three people can go up or down at the same time without fear of meeting each other. According to legend, the four minarets were built in honor of the fact that Suleiman the Magnificent was the fourth sultan after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks, and the ten balconies on the minarets were built in honor of the fact that he was the tenth sultan since the formation of the Ottoman Empire.

Three large wooden doors, covered with carvings and mother-of-pearl inlays, lead into the courtyard of the mosque. The courtyard is paved with marble slabs and surrounded by a gallery with 24 porphyry columns, which end in elegant capitals of carved marble with stalactites and pointed arches of white and pink marble. A small dome rises above each arch. There is a beautiful fountain for ablutions in the center of the courtyard.

Numerous buildings previously stood around the mosque - a madrasah, a medical school, a hospital, and a canteen for the poor. The first Academy of the East was established here, where students received the highest scientific degrees of the Ottoman Empire and where 70-year-old lawyers came to be examined.

In the garden behind the mosque there is a small cemetery where many prominent people are buried. To the east is the tomb of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, which is an octagonal domed building surrounded outside by a covered gallery with 29 thin, graceful marble columns on which pointed arches are supported. The turban of the Sultan and his sons is decorated with a carved walnut balustrade inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The outer walls of the turbe on both sides are decorated with majolica slabs with beautiful drawings and sayings from the Koran; above the door is the date of death of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent 944 AH (1566).

Under the windows inside the turbe, arcades made of colored stone stand out in relief. The magnificent dome of the mausoleum is supported from the inside by four marble and four porphyry columns, and the gallery thus arranged is illuminated from the outside by arched niches equipped with six paired windows. On both sides of the sarcophagi there are large candlesticks. The tombs are covered with rich fabrics, on which verses from the Koran are woven in gold, and white turbans with plumes of heron feathers are placed on the heads of the tombs. Around the monument to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, on special lecterns lie magnificent scrolls of the Koran and a relief map of the holy places of Mecca.

Next to the tomb of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent there is a smaller turbe, on which hangs a sign: “Tomb of Sultana Hurrem.” Not far from the mosque there is a modest tomb of the great architect Sinan, which is a masterpiece of architectural architecture. As one writer put it, it looks like the signature of a creative artist placed under a majestic mosque.

7. Some parallels between the biographies of Alexander the Great and Sultan Suleiman I Above, we talked a lot about Pharaoh Thutmes III, whom we identify with Sultan Mohammed II. At the same time, Mohammed II, according to the mathematical and statistical results obtained in,