MIHRIMAH SULTAN MOSQUE

Mihrimah Sultan Camii / Mosque

The construction of the complex, which is considered to have been built by Suleiman the Magnificent in the name of his daughter Mihrimah Sultan, began in the first years of the 1540s and was completed in 954 (1547) according to the mosque inscription. One of the first important building groups built after architect Sinan became the architect, the complex consisted of a mosque, a madrassa (college of that time), a sibyan school (kindergarten), an imaret (public kitchen) and an inn, as well as waterways, a fountain and toilets.

Mimar Sinan, who made his works in accordance with the personalities of those who built them, revealed the elegance and simplicity befitting a Sultan's daughter in the Uskudar Mihrimah Sultan Mosque. The structure built on the edge of the Strait dominates the Square, and the perfection in its proportions creates admiration for those who see it.

Unlike the classical mosque entrances, the entrance of the building has a portico covered with a steep roof. In addition to giving an aesthetic appearance, the steep roofs on the porches provide protection against the winds coming from the Bosphorus.

There is not much decoration in the mosque, which has no large plane sections anywhere. Beauty is provided by harmony of proportions to the interior, where simplicity prevails.

The Medical Center, located next to the mosque, was used as a madrasa during the period. At the junction of the western wall of the building and the qibla wall, there is a sundial made by Muhammad Arif in 1769.

It is quite easy to reach the area where the mosque is located by public transport. It is located at the Üsküdar Square. To reach from the European side, you can choose steamships departing from Eminönü or Beşiktaş. If you want to reach Marmaray, just get off at Uskudar stop. By using Metrobus, you can get off at Altunizade stop and then take the Metro to Üsküdar Square.