The Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque is far from being one of Istanbul’s most famous religious buildings. Although the complex is located in a tourist district, it’s not on any popular travel routes, so stumbling upon it by chance is rather unlikely. Travel guides note that the mosque’s main highlight is its vibrant interior decor. I wasn’t able to take many photos inside, but I still decided to share some pictures of the mosque’s grounds along with a bit of its history.
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: History
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha was born at the very beginning of the 16th century. By the age of 21, he had already distinguished himself in battle, and by 38, he had become the head of the imperial guard. Over time, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha rose to become the de facto ruler of the Ottoman Empire.
The mosque was built on the site where, according to tradition, the Church of Saint Anastasia once stood. A sign above the complex’s gate reminds visitors that another religious building was once located here.
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha commissioned the construction of the mosque, but it was not dedicated to him—it was dedicated to his wife, Ismihan Sultan. The design of the complex was created by Mimar Sinan, one of the most renowned architects of the Ottoman Empire. I’ve mentioned his works in articles about the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, and the aqueduct system of Istanbul. Interestingly, six years after this mosque was completed, Mimar Sinan built the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Bridge in Višegrad (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
The mosque was completed in 1571. I read that some of the construction materials were brought from the Kaaba in Mecca. One Istanbul guidebook mentions that certain columns in the mosque’s main hall can rotate, supposedly in a way that improves the building’s earthquake resistance—but I couldn’t quite figure out how that works.
How to Get There
In my opinion, the best way to visit the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque is to include it in a walking tour of the city’s main sights. For example, you can first visit the Basilica Cistern, explore the world-famous Hagia Sophia, stop by the Sultanahmet Mosque, and then head over to the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque—it’s about a seven-minute walk from there.
If public transportation is more convenient for you, the T1 tram line has a stop called “Çemberlitaş” not far from the mosque. Keep in mind that the way back to the tram stop is uphill.
Visiting the mosque is free of charge. As I mentioned earlier, I couldn’t take DSLR photos inside the main hall because a staff member said that professional equipment is not allowed. He did, however, let me take a couple of phone pictures. Visitors are free to move around both the mosque building and the surrounding grounds.
Since the mosque is located in the tourist heart of Istanbul, it’s easy to find something else to explore afterward. For example, you could visit the Little Hagia Sophia or walk to the Nakkaş Cistern.
Have a nice trip!
