The historic Suleymaniye mosque

The history of the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul dates back to 1550, when Suleyman I decided to build the largest and most beautiful Islamic temple in the empire. The famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who was famous for constructing buildings without an architectural plan, realised the padishah's dream. When building the sanctuary, the engineer used a technology that was innovative at the time, fixing the bricks with iron supports and then pouring molten lead for strength.

In total, the construction took around 7 years, and the architect predicted the eternal existence of this sturdy building. And after several centuries, his words have not been called into question.

This religious complex is majestic and solemn. The main dome is 53 metres high, with a diameter of almost 28 metres. The mosque is decorated with 4 minarets, two of which stretch to a height of 56 metres, the other two - 76 metres.

In the eastern part of Suleymaniye, there is a large courtyard containing seven tombs, including those of the sultan and his wife Roksolana (Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska). The padishah's tomb is an octagonal structure with a domed roof, decorated with marble columns and Islamic ornamentation.

Next to the sultan's mausoleum is the tomb of Roksolana, followed by other sarcophagi including those of his son Mehmed and the niece of Bishop Sultan Hanim.

The walls of the tomb are lined with Izmir blue tiles, on which poems are displayed. It is worth noting that the dome of Roksolana's tomb is painted white and that there are no inscriptions on it. Perhaps the architect wanted to emphasise the purity of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska's heart and soul.

The internal structure of the mosque has 168 windows, 32 of which are located at the top of the dome. As a result, the rays of light flow in a thick stream from the top of the dome to the ground, creating a magical, angelic atmosphere.

The architect's talent is also evident in the decoration of the mosque, which features marble tiles and stained glass windows. The hall of the mosque is decorated with floral motifs and geometric shapes, many of which are accompanied by sacred texts from the Koran. The building's floors are covered mainly with red and blue carpets.

The Suleymaniye's front courtyard, on the west side of the complex, is decorated with marble columns and a square marble fountain.

A building as exceptional as Suleymaniye is bound to keep secrets... And with good reason, legends have flourished since its creation.

One legend has it that before the mosque was built, the prophet Mohammed appeared in the sultan's dream. He is said to have indicated where the future sanctuary was to be built. After waking up, the sultan immediately called the architect Sinan.

Another legend is associated with the incredible acoustics of the Sulaymaniye Mosque. To achieve the desired effect, the architect ordered jugs to be inserted into the walls of the mosque, giving it a very special resonance.

If you look more closely in the room named Suleymaniye, you can see large ostrich eggs hanging between the lamps. It turns out that the eggs are not used as a decorative element, but as a method of combating insects, particularly spiders.