Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul was built on the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and truly is one of the most outstanding architectural structures of the East. The time when the rules of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566 years), historians have called the golden age of Istanbul. The dominant force in world politics was then the Ottoman Empire experienced its peak and that reached its climax as the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian. For this reason, this period is considered the pinnacle of power in the Turkish history.

This mosque is located on one of the seven hills of the city and rising to the sky, is considered a masterpiece of architectural art. Architect Sinan built a mosque. Construction was begun in 1550 and completed in 1557. Architect Sinan was immortalized as "the architect, who do not need architectural planning."

This outstanding famous architect worked in 1490- 588 years, and over fifty years of its creation was as chief court architect in five Turkish padishahs. He built about four monuments. In the work of Sinan find a lot of similarities with the great Michelangelo. In his project he was built madrasah in Mecca mosque in Budapest and many other facilities.

According to the existing tradition of construction of the mosque and the complex was carried out for 7 years. The building of the mosque is considered very resistant to earthquakes. When you open the mosque, Sinan said: "This mosque will stand forever." The words of the famous architect confirms the story happened in 500 years of earthquakes. During this entire period of twenty-four important monuments are built, Sinan, were not affected by the gravest 89 earthquakes of up to seven on the Richter scale.

Architect embodied grandiose ideas of Suleiman the Magnificent. Built in 1550 - 1557 years the mosque gave a certain charm of Istanbul, which nothing could compare. Sinan in his autobiography he wrote that the church of Ayia Sofia, is the most important criterion for the evaluation of all creatures created by them. He always wanted to prove to everyone that "you can build better than the Greeks." Mosque of Suleiman became really the most striking proof that Sinan turned to surpass architects who worked under Justinian.

The building of the mosque of Sultan Suleyman is based on four pillars. Located above the columns, made of red granite, pointed arches, brought specially from Baalbek to the Hippodrome, connect adjacent rooms to the main dome of the building. Above the mihrab located semi-dome (this is a niche indicating the direction of Mecca), which are in great harmony with the surrounding dome rooms. They thereby give to all the surrounding buildings freedom and emancipation. Mosque height is 49, 5 m, and the diameter of the dome is 26 - 2m.

View of the mosque, stands proudly in the hills, is particularly pleased by the Bosphorus and the Galata Bridge. The four minarets with ten balconies are a symbol of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who was the tenth in a row by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire ("the tenth son of Osman"), and the fourth of them, who ascended the throne after the conquest. Architect Sinan built the two minarets slightly shorter than the other. This ingenious solution that was designed to make building a mosque on the hill, more harmonious.

The complex is a great Süleymaniye Mosque can be called a city within a city. In addition to the mosque, it includes a school of the Koran, a Turkish bath, a caravanserai, a shelter, a few hospitals, toilets, as well as a shopping arcade artisans. Particularly fascinating views of the old plane trees and a small fountain.

The floor of the mosque is covered with carpet, and inside it has a good light - the light it gets out of one hundred thirty-six luxury beautiful stained-glass windows, decorated with ancient inscriptions, quotations from the Koran. Calligraphic inscription on the dome reads: "Allah - the light of the heavens and the earth. His light - just a niche; in her light; Light in the glass; Glass - exactly pearl star. Lights on the tree, he blessed - olives, either east or west. Oil is ready to ignite it, though, and it did not touch the fire. The light in the world! Conducted by Allah to His Light whom He wills! ".

Behind the mosque is a cemetery, where lie the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hjurrem Sultan. Some Venetian wrote about Suleiman: "The Sultan was so in love and devoted to his wife, which were all submitted sure Hjurrem Sultan bewitched him." Hjurrem Sultan was a Slav. Among Europeans Istanbul it was known under the name "Roksalana" remained impregnable for Suleiman as long as the sultan promised to marry her. The precedent of this kind had never been to a place among the sultans of the Ottoman Empire.

Near the Suleymaniye Mosque, at the junction, named after the architect, it is a modest tomb of Sinan.