Istanbul, Turkey
June, 2015
"Colors and Curves" may not be the best expression to describe a mosque, church or a temple but that was what stood out and grasped my attention in these mosques in Istanbul.
The Suleymaniye Mosque
The Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the most important and popular mosques in Istanbul. Built between 1550 and 1557, the mosque also acted as a welfare system, housing a hospital, schools, bath house and a soup kitchen. During its glory days, the mosque fed thousands of poor Muslims, Christians and Jews !!! The inside of the mosque is breathtaking with nicely decorated domes, columns and stained-glass windows.
The Rustem Pasha Mosque:
Not well known but yet another gem, a small mosque close to the Eminonu pier, is the Rustem Pasha mosque. We had to navigate narrow lanes packed with shops on either side and had to ask few locals to find the entrance of this mosque. Later on, i read that the ground floor of the mosque is filled with the shops. It was designed that way so that the income from the shops supported the mosque. The specialty of the Rustem Pasha mosque is the striking blue Iznik tiles set in a variety of beautiful patterns all over the exterior and interior of the mosque.
June, 2015
"Colors and Curves" may not be the best expression to describe a mosque, church or a temple but that was what stood out and grasped my attention in these mosques in Istanbul.
The Suleymaniye Mosque
The Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the most important and popular mosques in Istanbul. Built between 1550 and 1557, the mosque also acted as a welfare system, housing a hospital, schools, bath house and a soup kitchen. During its glory days, the mosque fed thousands of poor Muslims, Christians and Jews !!! The inside of the mosque is breathtaking with nicely decorated domes, columns and stained-glass windows.
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| View of the Suleymaniye Mosque from the Galata bridge. On the foreground is the Eminonu Pier. The mosque is located on a hill and it was very, very hot when we walked from Eminonu to the mosque. |
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| The tall minarets are visible from far away. |
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| As is common with most mosques, devotees wash thier feet before entering the mosque. |
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| Four large columns (2 of them are visible) and massive arches support the main dome, creating a soaring space. |
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| The visually striking main dome of the Suleymaniye mosque. Its height from the floor (53 meters) is exactly double its diameter (26.5 meters). |
Not well known but yet another gem, a small mosque close to the Eminonu pier, is the Rustem Pasha mosque. We had to navigate narrow lanes packed with shops on either side and had to ask few locals to find the entrance of this mosque. Later on, i read that the ground floor of the mosque is filled with the shops. It was designed that way so that the income from the shops supported the mosque. The specialty of the Rustem Pasha mosque is the striking blue Iznik tiles set in a variety of beautiful patterns all over the exterior and interior of the mosque.
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| Blue Iznik Tiles. |
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