• Diane and DarrylAthens, Turkey & the Silk RoadDiane and Darryl
    Şehzade Mosque
    Outside Şehzade MosqueOutside the mausoleum of Şehzade MosqueŞehzade Mosque mausoleumIn the mausoleum of Şehzade MosqueSchools, public kitchens and a hospital, all part of the Süleymaniye Mosque complexGate to the Süleymaniye MosqueSüleymaniye MosqueOverlooking the Bosphorus outside the Süleymaniye MosqueRustem Pasha MosqueNiche for imamIznik tile detailLeaving the neighborhood of our Airbnb

    Ottoman Architecture Tour

    May 16 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    We had arranged a private Context Tour (company) with Nance and Sande to learn about some of the iconic mosques other than the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The tour focused on three mosques, all designed by Mimar Sinan. Sinan was the Chief Architect and engineer for three sultans, and lived to the age of 80 (or 100, according to some sources). He had a prolific career, constructing or supervising over 500 buildings, including many large mosques and even designing his own tomb, which we saw in Istanbul.

    The three mosques we visited were:

    Şehzade Mosque: in honor of Sultan Süleyman’s favorite son, who died of disease before he could become his father’s successor. Completed in 1548.

    Süleymaniye Mosque complex, containing schools, public kitchens and a hospital, commissioned by Sultan Süleyman. Completed around 1557.

    Rustem Pasha Mosque, which we saw yesterday on our food tour, but happily returned to admire the colorful Iznik tile-work (you can tell by all of our photos). It was completed in 1561.    Read more