Rüstem Pasha Mosque is tucked above the market streets near Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar. Its interior is celebrated for Iznik tiles, whose repeating floral and geometric patterns turn a relatively compact mosque into an exceptionally rich surface of color and craft.
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Look for the tiles: they make Rüstem Pasha Mosque feel almost wrapped in color. Built in the sixteenth century for Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha, the mosque is closely associated with architect Mimar Sinan. The interior’s Iznik tiles—blue, turquoise, white, and red—are arranged in repeating patterns that reward close attention.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- The mosque dates to the sixteenth century and is associated with Mimar Sinan.
- Its interior is known for Iznik tilework.
- The Aga Khan Museum documents tile panels from the mosque dating to around 1560.
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