Sehzade Mehmet Mosque
Sehzade Mehmet Mosque
4.5
The area
Neighbourhood: Grand Bazaar
Tourists, hawkers, and locals come together at the Grand Bazaar to comb its labyrinthine passageways in search of a bargain – be it a pair of brand name jeans, a handcrafted silk rug, or a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Outside the vast bazaar, worn, narrow streets wind their way down from its lofty perch to the southern shore of the Golden Horn, where the evocatively aromatic Spice Bazaar beckons alongside the elegant New Mosque (opened in 1665). Nearby, the famed Galata Bridge offers pedestrian access to urban delights across the river in Istanbul’s more residential and contemporary neighbourhoods, while the must-see sights of Sultanahmet are but a leisurely stroll away.
How to get there
  • Vezneciler • 4 min walk

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles279 reviews
Excellent
193
Very good
74
Average
12
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Mehllo
Matamoras, PA98 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016 • Couples
The Şehzade Camii or the “Prince’s Mosque” is an imperial mosque located on Sehzadebasi Caddesi in Lalehi district situated directly opposite the Grand Hotel Gulsoy. Sehzad Mehmed was the first son of the tenth Ottoman Sultan, Suleyman the Magnificent (b.1494-d.1566) and his wife Hurrrem Sultan (Roxelana) and the heir to succession. Returning from a successful military campaign Sehzade died at the young age of 22 years (b.1521-d.1543). Sultan Suleyman commissioned the master Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan to build a mausoleum in memory of his son. It was Sinan’s first imperial commission of his long career in which he built 144 mosques & mescit (small mosques). These included that of Sultan Suleyman (the Sulemaneye Mosque in 1558), and of his favorite daughter Princess Mihrimah (Mihrimah Sultan Mosque 1565) and of his chief mister (grand vizier), Rustem Pasha, who was married to Mihrimah (Rustem Pasha Mosque 1563).

The mosque is much smaller compared to the Suleymaneye mosque but it is beautiful. Five gates lead to the yard surrounding the mosque complex (kulliye) and the mosque has three entrances. The interior of the Şehzade mosque is square shaped and walls with blue stained glass windows. Its has central dome (diameter 62ft and a height of 121 ft.) which is supported by four semi-domes, one on each side, buttressed on four huge piers.

The mosque complex also has the mausoleums (turbes) of the crown prince, Sehzade Mehmed, his daughter Humasah and younger brother Sehzade Cihangir, and his brother-in-law Rustem Pasha (married to his sister Mihrimah), another grand vizier Ibrahim Pasha and several others.

Sehzadi mosque has two minarets (height 55m or 180ft) with two galleries (serefes) to which are attached several loudspeakers used in announcing the call for prayer (adhan or azan) five times daily for the faithful to come for worship (salat). Early in the mornings we would awaken to the loud but melodious voice of the muezzin (reciter) from out nearby hotel room. I found it more soothing than awakening to any alarm clock.

From Shezadebasi camii, a short walk of about 10 minutes will take one to the Valens Aqueduct (built 364AD), a historic overland water supply source to the ancient Roman city of Constantinople (current Istanbul). Another 15 minutes of walk from there to the much larger and grandiose Fatih camii. Visits to all three tourist attractions can be completed in a leisurely 3 to 4 hours including walking time -a good half-day outing
Written 15 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hayesy2015
Mugla, Türkiye779 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016
Upon the sudden death of his eldest son, Prince Mehmet, from smallpox, Sultan Süleyman commisioned Sinan to construct the Şehzade Camii in his memory
The Prince's tomb is at the rear of the mosque and is decorated with beautiful İznik faience.
The mosque was described by Sinan as his "apprentice work" and the resulting structure is, compared to his later more sedate works, surprisingly more aesthetic.
Red stonework and ornate carvings decorate the exterior.
The central dome is supported on irregular shaped piers, with four semi-domes.
The symetrical configuration was never used again despite achieving the purpose of giving the interior the impression of greater space.
Written 15 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Samia H
38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2016 • Couples
This Historic Mosque that was was built in the 16th century makes you feel the magnificence of worship places.

It is very tranquil and very clean place.

Like all the mosques that I have been in Turkey, it women friendly.
Written 29 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jae's Wanderlust
Seoul, South Korea512 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2015 • Solo
Şehzade Mosque, Şehzade Camii, is another gem hidden away in the less visited area of Istanbul, very close to Valens Aqueduct.
Commissioned by the Sultan as a memorial to his son Şehzade Mehmed who died in a war in 1543, it is referred to as the "Prince's Mosque".
The grand exterior with large colonnaded forecourt is impressive with stylish ablution fountain, while the interior boasts not too complicated clear, sometimes cute details.
Garden accompanying the Mosque being also beautiful to stroll around, this place would be worth visiting if you know how to get there easily.
Written 26 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aykut G
Cappadocia, Türkiye64 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Couples
The mosque built for the son of Sultan Süleyman who died really young! You can see the details to give you the idea of its decoration. Emptiness! Inside a fathers heart after losing a child even if he's a sultan of an empire and Outside the domes, archgates are decorated with a crown!

First mosque for Sinan's innovation! Hidden Bustresses with side galleries! and the decorated minarets that are unique in Ottoman Capital!
Written 21 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ThegilaniAK
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia343 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Couples
A master piece of Mimar Sinan. It is much less crowded than Sultan Ahmad and smaller, but with lots of interact details. Visit it after Sulaymanye as it is nearby and a 9 min. walk downhill from there.
Written 27 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kanchan C
Bengaluru, India130 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015
We visited this mosque as this was just 5 minutes walking distance from our hotel.. but realized that this is an underestimated place. Architecture is good and mosque is very serene.
Written 11 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Majka S
Lodz, Poland115 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015 • Couples
Beautiful mosque with very beautiful tombs (they are closed and you need to see them by the window). It's a quiet and not so popular place, but people are nice.
Written 9 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

petejt
United Kingdom28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Solo
Beautiful mosque by the Great Sinan that seems to be left off the tourist trail that tends to finish with the Blue Mosque, and Suileymaniye. A great pity as it is a lovely building. This is also the only mosque that (for me anyway) did not clear out visitors at prayer time - maybe because I was the only Westerner there(?) An experience I'll not forget.
Written 6 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cmkhairu77
Shah Alam, Malaysia74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Solo
This mosque is quiet from tourist... so u can have a lot of privacy in taking the snapshot inside.....
Written 28 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Sehzade Mehmet Mosque, Istanbul