AtlasIslamica

Süleymaniye Mosque

One of the hallmarks of Istanbul, Süleymaniye Mosque is instantly recognisable on the horizon from far across the Golden Horn, as well as the Fatih district

Istanbul, Turkey

Coordinates: 41.016111, 28.963889

The Süleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey.

The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by the imperial architect of Ottomans Mimar Sinan.

Behind the qibla wall of the mosque is an enclosure containing the separate mausoleums of Suleiman the Magnificent and that of his wife Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana).

For 462 years, the Süleymaniye Mosque was the largest mosque in the city, until it was surpassed by the Çamlıca Mosque in 2019.

The Süleymaniye Mosque is one of the best-known sights of Istanbul, and from its location on the Third Hill, it commands a spectacular view of the city around the Golden Horn.

Know This

Spend at least an hour walking around the grounds, and don’t forget to pay your respects not only to the Sultan himself (tomb behind mosque) but also the peerless architectural genius Sinan, whose own humble tomb is discreetly tucked away on a street corner nearby.