Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
- Changes after its construction
- It was damaged in the earthquakes of 1718-19 and 1766; its minaret was shortened.
- It was damaged again in the earthquakes of 1831-32 and 1894; the minaret was rebuilt.
- Extensive restorations were carried out in 1910-1912, 1956 and the following years.
- It was repaired by the Directorate General of Foundations starting from 1956.
- The building was also affected by the earthquake in 1999 and a restoration work was carried out in 2007-2010.
- Featured Features
- It is a mosque with a rectangular courtyard in Ottoman classical architecture. The mosque’s prayer hall has a rectangular plan and is covered with a large dome in the middle. The side wings are made low in three domed sections and are integrated with four arches supporting the main dome.
- Surrounding the courtyard on three sides with porticos, the madrasah consists of seventeen domed cells. This asymmetrical madrasah began operating in 1569 with the appointment of a teacher. According to the foundation charter dated 1570-71, classes are held inside the mosque.
- In the middle of the courtyard, there is a fountain with a marble pool covered by an eave supported by sixteen columns.
- The minaret located in the northwest corner of the building had a thick body when it was first built, but was later renovated with a thin body. After it was destroyed in the 1894 earthquake, it was rebuilt, yet its original dimensions were not preserved.
- The mosque has a beautiful carved marble minbar and stucco windows decorated with stained glass. No tiles were used in the interior decoration.
- In the mosque’s shrine, the tombs of Semiz Ahmed Pasha, the husband of Mihrimah Sultan’s daughter Ayşe Sultan, and his family are located. It was built by Mimar Sinan.
- It is the greatest work of Mimar Sinan among the single-domed mosques. This structure, combined with side wings, a madrasah and a bazaar, has an unusual arrangement in Ottoman social complexes. The choice of location of the complex and its construction on a high area overlooking the land side of Istanbul gave the mosque a prominent place in the city’s panorama.
