Tekirdağ

Museums

The Grand Mosque of Rüstem Pasha by Mimar Sinan (Mimar Sinan'ın Rüstem Paşa Ulu Camii)

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque was commissioned in 1553 by Rüstem Pasha, the Grand Vizier and son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, to Mimar Sinan, the most celebrated chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. Located on a hill overlooking the sea in Tekirdağ city center, it stands as one of the finest examples of Classical Ottoman architecture in the Thrace region. • Architectural Structure: The mosque is constructed using finely cut limestone (küfeki stone). The main prayer hall is covered by a single large dome and preceded by a five-bay portico (late comers' area). The dome is supported by arches resting on the main walls via pendentives. • Interior Decoration: The interior is remarkably spacious and well-lit. One of its most striking features is the historical minbar (pulpit), a masterpiece of Ottoman woodwork crafted from ebony tree, intricately inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl. The original stained-glass windows and elegant hand-drawn wall paintings (kalem işi) add to its aesthetic grandeur. • The Complex (Külliye): The structure was originally designed not just as a mosque, but as a large social complex (külliye), which included a madrasa (theological school), a Turkish bath (hamam), a covered bazaar (bedesten), and a library. Today, the mosque remains open for active worship, while the restored bazaar section houses various boutique shops for visitors.

📍 Ertuğrul Mahallesi, Mimar Sinan Caddesi No:5, 59100 Süleymanpaşa / Tekirdağ