Top 5 Muslim Religious Sites in Istanbul

Founded during the Byzantine Empire around 660BC, Istanbul has emerged as a metropolitan and an advanced city throughout the years. It is Turkey’s financial and cultural hub and one of the most visited places in Europe. It has something for all the religions, with its landmarks dating back to several historical occasions.
Turkey is famous for its amazing architectural wonders. With such architecture, rich culture, and historical value, you won’t have any issues finding the places to visit. Undoubtedly, each site has a significance and beauty of its own, but we have chosen 5 amazing religious sites for you to visit.

1. Hagia Sophia

(Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash)

In the Greek language, Sophia means wisdom, and Hagia Sophia is translated as the “Shrine of the Holy God”. It is a great architectural landmark and is considered an important monument for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Originally, it was built to be a church and a Holy site for Christians during the 6th Century. Later on, after the Byzantine Empire was built, it was converted into a mosque. However, it was turned into a museum by the first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in 1935. Recently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan converted it into a mosque once again. It is one of the most cherished landmarks of Istanbul and is a perfect place to witness both the Ottoman and Byzantine effects under one huge dome.

2. Topkapi Palace

The huge complex is an amazing display of Islamic art, with courtyards lined with mesmerizing hand-crafted tile-work, linking a series of luxuriously furnished rooms. It was first built in the 15th century by Mehmet the Conqueror, and the sultans of the Ottoman Empire ruled over their people from here up till the 19th century. Its most popular highlights include; the Harem, the place for the children of the Sultan, huge Palace kitchens, the Second Court where you can walk and access the kitchen and be awed at the dazzling interior of the Imperial Council Chamber, and a Third Court where the private rooms of the Sultan were situated. To see this palace in full, you need at least half a day.

3. Suleymaniye Mosque

(Photo by Ivan Aleksic on Unsplash)

Suleymaniye Mosque was built in 1557 as a tribute to Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. He was the longest-reigning sultan of Turkey and was known as the “Second Solomon” due to the justice and harmony during his reign. It is situated on the top of a hill and is one of the biggest mosques in the city. It is known as one of the masterpieces of the legendary architect Mimar Sinan. The central dome is 47m high and has an elegantly decorated interior. It houses a religious school, hospital, library, market, tombs, and a soup kitchen. The tombs of Sultan Suleyman and his wife Haseki Hurrem can be found here, inlaid with mesmerizing precious stones, metals, and stained glass. The tomb of the architect is also situated here in the north-western corner.

4. Fatih Mosque

The famous Fatih Mosque is situated in the middle of the historical peninsula of Istanbul in the Fatih district. Its construction lasted seven years and was completed in 1470. The construction was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. Hence, his name was given to the area and the mosque (in Turkish, Fatih is translated as the Conqueror). Its complex used to contain many structures such as madrasas, hospices, dormitories, hospitals, markets, hamam, and tombs. However, only the madrasas, libraries, tombs, and hospices are present today. All the other structures were destroyed by natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes.

5. Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque was a grand architectural gift of Sultan Ahmet I to his capital. It was built between 1609 and 1616 and caused an outbreak of anger in the Muslim community due to its 6 minarets (same as the Great Mosque of Mecca). However, a seventh minaret was then gifted to Mecca to stabilize the increasing anger amongst the Muslims. It got its name from the combination of tens of thousands of Iznik tiles. The entire color scheme and spatial effects of the interior make it one of the best achievements of Ottoman architecture.

Posted by Ahmad Saud

Content writer, Traveler, and Partnerships Executive.