Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
Sultanahmet
TOPKAPI PALACE
| PALACE
AYA SOFYA
| MUSEUM
BLUE MOSQUE
| MOSQUE
İSTANBUL ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUMS
| MUSEUM
BASILICA CISTERN
| CISTERN
| TOMBS
AYA SOFYA TOMBS
(Aya Sofya Müzesi Padişah Türbeleri; Kabasakal Caddesi; 9am-5pm; Sultanahmet)
Part of the
Aya Sofya complex but entered via Kabasakal Caddesi, these tombs are the final resting
places of five sultans - Mehmet III, Selim II, Murad III, İbrahim I and Mustafa I - most of
whom are buried with members of their families. The ornate interior decoration in the
tombs features the very best Ottoman tilework, calligraphy and decorative paintwork.
Mehmet III's tomb dates from 1608 and Murad III's from 1599; both are adorned with
particularly beautiful İznik tiles. Next to Murad's tomb is that of his five children; this was
designed by Sinan and has simple but superb painted decoration.
Selim II's tomb, which was designed by Sinan and built in 1577, is particularly poignant,
as it houses the graves of five of his sons, murdered on the same night in December 1574 to
ensure the peaceful succession of the oldest, Murad III. It also houses the graves of 19 of
Murad's sons, murdered in January 1595 to facilitate Mehmet III's succession. They were
the last of the royal princes to be murdered by their siblings - after this, the younger broth-
ers of succeeding sultans were confined to the
kafes
(cage) in Topkapı Palace instead.
