Şehzade (Prince's) Mosque

SEHZADE MOSQUE

In the year 1543, Prince Mehmed, second son of Suleyman the Magnificent, died. This left his father in a state of deep grief. To commemorate his son, the sultan ordered chief architect Mimar Sinan to build a mosque complex named after Mehmed.

In addition to the task of honoring Mehmed's memory, this job was a matter of considerable importance for Sinan as it would be his first major complex project. He later referred to it as his “apprenticeship project.” The entire project was completed within five years, thanks to Sinan's diligent efforts. The mosque was named after the late son of the sultan, people most commonly referred to it by the prince’s title, Sehzade.

Just like in his later projects—the Süleymaniye Mosque complex, which is not too far from Sehzade, and the Selimiye Mosque complex in Edirne—Sinan designed some other structures around the mosque that fulfilled various functions. His design was the full package, with a public kitchen, a kindergarten, a madrasah (an institution equal to a college), a guesthouse for the poor and homeless. Şehzade Mehmed's tomb, completed previously, is also near the mosque.

Inside the mosque, visitors encounter minimalistic elegance in shades of predominantly red, black, grey and blue. The exterior offers a timelessly beautiful view, with the composition of the domes and the symmetry created through the windows. And if you’re still on the fence about visiting Sehzade Mosque, perhaps its proximity to other historical areas such as Suleymaniye and Vefa will sway you.