Süleymaniye Mosque crowns one of Istanbul’s hills as the central element of an extensive charitable complex. Designed by Mimar Sinan for Sultan Süleyman, it joined worship with education, health care, and public services.
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The mosque’s broad silhouette is only the center of a larger institution. Sultan Süleyman commissioned Mimar Sinan to create the Süleymaniye complex in the sixteenth century, placing it high above the Golden Horn. The külliye included educational institutions, a hospital, kitchens, a bath, and other services alongside the mosque.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Sultan Süleyman commissioned the mosque in the sixteenth century.
- Mimar Sinan designed the complex.
- The külliye included educational, medical, charitable, and commercial buildings.
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