One of the main reasons I like Istanbul is its extraordinary history. Originally known as Byzantium, later Constantinople and finally Istanbul, this city was the centre of power for the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires for nearly 16 centuries. While remarkable Byzantine monuments such as Hagia Sophia and the Theodosian Walls still stand, it is the Ottoman heritage that most visibly defines the city today – culturally, artistically and architecturally. The most iconic symbols of Ottoman Istanbul are its grand imperial mosques.
IMPERIAL MOSQUES IN OTTOMAN ISTANBUL
The Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is perhaps the most recognisable Ottoman monument. With its rare six minarets, unique among imperial mosques, it stands opposite Hagia Sophia in the historic Sultanahmet district. Its graceful domes and intricate tilework have made it one of the city’s most visited sites.
Yet, it is the Süleymaniye Mosque, designed by imperial architect Mimar Sinan for Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, that truly dominates the city’s skyline. Carefully positioned on one of Istanbul’s seven hills, its harmonious proportions and commanding views of the Golden Horn make it an unrivalled architectural statement of Ottoman power.
Beyond the city’s historic core lie other magnificent yet less visited imperial mosques. While they may not attract as many tourists as the Blue Mosque or Süleymaniye, these sites are equally rich in history and beauty.
The Şehzade Mosque, for example, was commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in memory of his son Mehmed, who died in 1543.
TOPKAPI PALACE
Most visitors, especially those on short weekend trips, focus on the most famous landmarks – Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.
Topkapi Palace, in particular, is a jewel of Ottoman Istanbul. For nearly four centuries, it was the seat of 30 sultans until Sultan Abdülmecid I moved the court to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace in the mid-19th century.
SOKULLU MEHMED PASHA MOSQUE
But the Ottoman legacy goes far beyond these headline attractions. Across the city, lesser-known gems await discovery. The Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Mosque, for example, was built in 1571 by the great imperial architect Mimar Sinan.
Its patron, Sokullu Mehmed Pasha, was born a Serbian Orthodox Christian in Bosnia. The Ottomans took him as a boy under the devşirme system. It was a levy on Christian subjects whereby promising youths were converted to Islam and trained for imperial service. Serving under three sultans and married to Sultan Selim II’s daughter, Sokullu rose to great power.
His mosque’s impressive Iznik tilework ranks among the finest in the city.
CERRAH MEHMED PASHA MOSQUE
Another unexpected find was the Cerrah Mehmed Pasha Mosque, hidden far from tourist routes. Built for a former palace surgeon who became Grand Vizier in 1598, it remains largely unknown to foreign visitors.
Discovering such places in unassuming neighbourhoods is one of the joys of exploring Istanbul. You not only stumble upon beautiful architecture, but also uncover forgotten historical figures.
GAZI ATIK ALI PASHA MOSQUE
Even in the busiest areas, treasures often go unnoticed. Thousands pass the Gazi Atik Ali Pasha Mosque each day, while walking between the Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia. Yet, few step inside or consider its role in the city’s transformation after the Ottoman conquest in 1453.
Built in 1496, this beautifully decorated historic temple stands as a remarkable example of religious architecture. It was commissioned by Hadim Ali Pasha, a Bosnian-born Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II.
RÜSTEM PASHA MADRASA
Other remarkable examples of Ottoman heritage include the Rüstem Pasha Madrasa and the Gazanfer Ağa Madrasa, both outstanding in their design and in the stories behind their creation.
The Rüstem Pasha Madrasa, commissioned in 1551 by Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha and designed by the legendary imperial architect Mimar Sinan, was more than an educational institution. It was a statement of political power and cultural refinement.
Rüstem Pasha, married to Mihrimah Sultan, the only daughter of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, was one of the most influential and wealthiest figures of his time.
The madrasa served as a centre for religious education, producing scholars and clerics who would go on to serve the empire. Its courtyard, encircled by student cells, and elegant prayer hall reflect Sinan’s mastery of proportion and harmony.
GAZANFER AĞA MADRASA
Equally fascinating is the Gazanfer Ağa Madrasa, built in 1596 under the patronage of Gazanfer Ağa, the Chief Eunuch of Sultan Mehmed III’s imperial harem. That a eunuch, originally a palace servant, could amass the wealth and influence to commission such a structure speaks volumes about the complexities of the Ottoman court, where proximity to the sultan often meant extraordinary power.
Designed by the court architect Davut Ağa, it combined education with charitable work. It offered instruction in Islamic sciences and provided lodging and meals for students.
Both these madrasas reveal the cultural ambitions of their patrons, men who used architecture not only to serve the public good, but also to secure their legacies in stone. They remind us that Ottoman Istanbul was shaped not just by sultans, but also by powerful palace figures whose influence is still visible today.
THE REST OF OTTOMAN ISTANBUL
Of course, no account of Ottoman Istanbul would be complete without mentioning the Grand Bazaar and the surrounding Bazaar Quarter, with its maze of Ottoman-era buildings and traditional wooden houses.
Across Istanbul, fountains commissioned by sultans, viziers and court officials stand as public art pieces. Some humble, others breath-taking in their decoration, each telling a story of charity, prestige and civic pride.
This is only a glimpse of Ottoman Istanbul. The city holds countless treasures for those willing to wander beyond the most popular routes. In side streets and quiet courtyards, you may find yourself standing before a centuries-old mosque, madrasa or fountain. You’ll learn the name of a figure you had never heard of before, yet whose life once shaped the fate of an empire.
Istanbul rewards curiosity. Every turn of a corner offers the possibility of another story, another piece of history and another chance to place a fragment of the past into the vast mosaic of this extraordinary city.
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