Changes After Construction
It was damaged in the fires of 1613 and 1633; the dome of the fountain was renovated during the reign of Murad IV.
The wooden parts were completely burned in the fires of 1718 and 1782; partial repairs were made in 1916 and 1953.
The complex underwent extensive restoration between 1994 and 1999.
Featured Highlights
It is also known as the Şehzadebaşı Mosque.
Şehzade Mosque is the first Imperial Complex of Mimar Sinan. The central dome rises on four large columns and is supported by four half domes.
The mosque has a square plan and a large dome. The Sultan’s Lodge in the Harim, the women's gallery surrounded by a wooden cage and the Muezzin's lodge with 8 columns are meticulously crafted.
The mosque is entered through three main doors; the inscription on the main door reads “Mabed-i Ummet-i Resûl-i Mûbin - year 955” (“Temple of the Nation of the Explicit Prophet”).
The mosque courtyard is surrounded by 12-columned, 16-domed porticos. The fountain in the middle of the courtyard draws attention with its elegant workmanship.
It has two minarets with two balconies. The minarets are crafted with fine details and are successfully integrated into the mass.
Şehzade Mosque is considered one of the works of Mimar Sinan's "apprenticeship period" and is an important example of symmetrical planning and central dome structure in Ottoman architecture.
