Şehzade Mehmet Mosque

Süleyman the Magnificent built this 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. Although not one of his best works, it has two beautiful minarets and attractive exterior decoration. Among the many important people buried in tile-encrusted tombs here are Prince Mehmet, his brothers and sisters, and Süleyman’s grand viziers, Rüstem Paşa and İbrahim Paşa. After you’ve visited the mosque, consider stopping for a tea or lunch at Şehzade Mehmed Sofrası, housed in one of the külliye buildings behind the mosque.