Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

MOSQUE ŞEHZADE MEHMET MOSQUE ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Şehzade Mehmet Camii, Mosque of the Prince; Şehzadebaşı Caddesi, Kalenderhane; m Vezneciler) Süleyman the Magnificent built this square-shaped mosque between 1543 and 1548 as a memorial to his son Mehmet, who died of smallpox in 1543 at the age of 22. It was the first important mosque to be designed by Mimar Sinan and has a lovely garden setting, two double-balconied minarets and attractive exterior decoration. Inside, the central dome is supported by four semidomes (one on each side of the square). Among the many important people buried in tile-encrusted tombs on the mosque’s eastern side are Prince Mehmet, his brothers and sisters and two of Süleyman’s grand vezirs : Rüstem Paşa and İbrahim Paşa. Other still-surviving parts of the külliye include a partially demolished medrese and a tabhane (inn for travelling dervishes) that is now used as a laboratory by the neighbouring Vefa Lycée. from Cağaloğlu Meydanı and Nuruosmaniye Caddesi to the bazaar, it is surprisingly peaceful and contemplative inside. The türbe contains Şehsuvar Sultan, mother of Osman III, and the library (being restored at the time of research) is home to more than 5000 handwritten and printed manuscripts. Visitor entry to the mosque is via the rear courtyard.

WOMEN’S BAZAAR (Kadınlar Pazarı; İtfaiye Caddesi, Fatih; m Vezneciler)

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Though it’s a wonderful spot to observe local life, the vibrant Women’s Bazaar isn’t for the faint-hearted. Freshly slaughtered sheep carcasses swing in the wind and shops sell dried sheep heads, pungent tulum cheese and other unusual produce. Most shopkeepers are from the southeastern corner of Turkey – specifically Siirt – and the tasty food served at the bazaar’s eateries reflects this.

AQUEDUCT OF VALENS ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Atatürk Bulvarı, Zeyrek; m Vezneciler)

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