Where is the sehzade mosque in istanbul?
A French Jew named Prost responded to a Turkish engineer who told him that he was wrong in his choice of the Unkapanı – Sarachane route saying, “I know that I am wrong but, should I have showed up Şehzade Mosque, leaving the Byzantine work of Valens Cove (Bozdogan) and the wonderful part of the Roman work of Fil damı behind?” Aren’t these words sad but at the same time good examples making our unawareness manifest on whom we rely and from whom we ask for help? (Samiha Ayverdi, İki Aşina, p.189)
There are three famous works of Mimar Sinan. Şehzade Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque are very close to each other. The third one Selimiye Mosque is located in Edirne. Mimar Sinan himself commented about these three works as such:
– Şehzade Mosque is the work of my apprenticeship, Süleymaniye is the work of my semiskilled times, and Selimiye, on the other hand, is the work of my mastery.
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent had this mosque constructed in the name of his very beloved son, Şehzade Mehmed who died at his young age. Mimar Sinan started its construction in 1543 with the command of the ruler and completed it in 1548. This mosque is the first salatin mosque and kulliyah constructed by Mimar Sinan. In the Kulliyah, there is a madrasa, a guesthouse, a school, a soup kitchen and some tombs.
Dome of the mosque is 19 m in diameter. Its height is 37m. The greatest dome supported by four half domes was placed upon four pillars called elephant-feet.
Each one of the minarets of Şehzade Mosque has two balconies (sharafa), which distinguishes the mosque from all other salatin mosques in Istanbul. Embroidery on its minarets’ facade is unique to this mosque.
The pulpit, the niche (mihrab) and the place for muezzin (mahfil) in the mosque are very precious pieces of art.
There are five tombs in total in the kulliyah of the mosque. One of the tombs that belong to Şehzade Mehmed is one of the most gorgeous tombs of Istanbul.
Source: Harun Kırkıl, Read About and Travel Around ISTANBUL, Erkam Publications
Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) Mosque and Its Kulliyah
