Suleymaniye Mosque | Istanbul sight seeing
Suleymaniye Mosque : It's the biggest and many imposing mosque as being a definite architectural masterpiece within the city. The aesthetic supremacy of their exterior and interior and it is perfect proportions happen to be captivating the site visitors for hundreds of years. |
| The Suleiman Mosque |
image credit: www.visit2istanbul.com
History
The Suleiman Mosque was built on the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan. The construction work began in 1550 and the mosque was finished in 1557.The mosque is modeled in part on the style of a Byzantine basilica, particularly the Hagia Sophia, which was perhaps a conscious move on the part of the sultan to create a continuity and a symbolic connection with the city's past.
The Suleiman Mosque was ravaged by a fire in 1660 and was restored on the command of Sultan Mehmed IV by architect Fossatı. The restoration, however, changed the mosque into a more baroque style, damaging the great work severely.
The mosque was restored to its original glory during the 19th century but during World War I the courtyard was used as a weapons depot and when some of the ammunition ignited, the mosque suffered another fire. Not until 1956 was it restored again. Today, the Suleiman Mosque is one of the most popular sights in Istanbul.
Credit: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-suleiman-mosque
