Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
ATİK VALİDE MOSQUE
OFFLINE MAP
| MOSQUE
(Atik Valide Camii; Valide Imaret Sokak; Üsküdar)
This is one of the two great İstanbul mosque
complexes designed by Mimar Sinan. Though not as spectacular as the Süleymaniye (
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extensive
külliye
(includes a now decommissioned hamam on Dr Fahri Atabey Caddesi
and, closer to the mosque, an
imaret
(soup kitchen),
medrese
(Islamic school of higher
studies),
darüşşifa
(hospital) and
han
(caravan-serai).
The mosque was built on Üsküdar's highest hill in 1583 for Valide Sultan Nurbanu, wife
of Selim II and mother of Murat III. Nurbanu had been captured by Turks on the Aegean
island of Paros when she was 12 years old, ending up as a slave in Topkapı. The poor wo-
man had a lot to bear - first being kidnapped and then taking the fancy of Selim the Sot.
But she was his favourite concubine and became a clever player in Ottoman politics. The
Kandınlar Sultanatı (Rule of the Women), under which a succession of powerful women in-
fluenced the decisions made by their sultan husbands and sons, began with her. Murat ad-
ored his mother and on her death commissioned Sinan to build this monument to her.
The mosque is in the neighbourhood of Valide-i Atik, up Hakimiyet-i Milliye and Dr
Fahri Atabey Caddesis.
ŞAKİRİN MOSQUE
(cnr Huhkuyusu Caddesi & Dr Burhanettin Üstünel Sokak; 6, 9A, 11P, 11V, 12A, 12C)
One of the few
architecturally notable modern mosques in İstanbul, this 2009 building was designed by
Hüsrev Tayla and its interior was decorated by Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, best known for her
glamorous restaurant and nightclub fit outs. The building itself has a wonderful transparen-
cy, but the highlight is the interior, which features a gorgeous turquoise-and-gold mihrab
and a magnificent 'dripping glass' chandelier.
| MOSQUE
The mosque is opposite the Zeynep Kamil Hospital. Take a bus from the
iskele
and
alight at the Zeynep Kamil stop, or walk up Dr Fahri Atabey Caddesi from the Atik Valide
Mosque and turn right into Nuhkuyusu Caddesi.
ÇİNİLİ MOSQUE
OFFLINE MAP
| MOSQUE
(Çinili Camii, Tiled Mosque; Çinili Hamam Sokak; Üsküdar)
Built in 1640, little mosque is fairly
unprepossessing from the outside, but the interior is a totally different story. The walls are
decorated with gorgeous İznik tiles, the bequest of Mahpeyker Kösem, wife of Sultan Ah-
