Şehzade Mosque

The Şehzade Mosque was Mimar Sinan's first imperial commission, completed in 1548, ten years before the Süleymaniye. He considered it his apprentice work — "a journey" compared to the Süleymaniye's "mastery" — but modern visitors often prefer its quieter, more elegant proportions. It was built in memory of Süleyman's eldest son Mehmed, who died young (and possibly from smallpox; the disease was a common cause of Ottoman princes dying before reaching the throne).

The mosque sits in a quiet garden on Istanbul's Fourth Hill, between the Süleymaniye and the city walls. The interior is decorated with fine İznik tiles in cool greens and blues — somewhat quieter than Rüstem Pasha's. The eight symmetrically placed marble columns supporting the dome are the clearest demonstration of Sinan's emerging geometric language.

The complex includes the tombs of Şehzade Mehmed, Rüstem Pasha, and several other Ottoman notables. The cemetery behind the mosque is a working cemetery that stretches along the hill — the views over the city from the upper paths are unmatched and almost never crowded.

Free entry. Modest dress. Closed for prayer five times a day for ~30 minutes each.