Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: Black Stone fragments and Sinan’s tiles
- Mosques
- Kadırga, Fatih
- Free
Family hotels closest to Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque
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Sareban Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 2 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
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Emirhan Inn Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 3 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
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Seven Roses Apart Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 3 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
Visitor information
| Type | Vizier’s mosque and complex |
|---|---|
| Built | 1571–1572 |
| Commissioned by / architect | For Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and his wife İsmihan Sultan; Mimar Sinan |
| Neighbourhood | Kadırga, Fatih |
| Opening hours | Daily from morning until the night (isha) prayer; visitors are not admitted during prayer times |
| Admission | Free (there is a donation box) |
| Time needed | 20–30 min |
| Getting there | T1 Sultanahmet stop, 8 min walk |
| From Sultanahmet Square | About 11 min walk (740 m) |
| Pushchair / stroller | Partly suitable. You enter the courtyard by steps from a sloping street |
| Best time | In the morning or afternoon, outside prayer times |
Opening hours and prices can change; check the official website before you go. Map links open in Google Maps.
A complex set on a slope
On the steep hillside of Kadırga, Mimar Sinan placed the madrasa around the mosque courtyard, under the arcades and linked by steps; you enter the courtyard from below through a vaulted passage. This solution is seen as an example of how skilfully Sinan planned even on small and difficult sites.
The tiles and the Black Stone fragments
The mihrab wall is covered with tiles of tulips, carnations and floral (hatayi) motifs, among the finest examples of 16th-century İznik tilework. Above the entrance door, in the mihrab, in the minbar and in the muezzin’s gallery are small stone fragments said to have been brought from the Black Stone of the Kaaba; visitors can find these spots by asking the attendants.
Visiting tips
- See it on the same walk as the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque; the two mosques are 3 minutes apart.
- This is a quiet neighbourhood mosque; pay attention to prayer times, especially on Fridays.
Our family hotels near Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Walking times are approximate and measured from the hotel door; where the hotel gives its own time, we show that.
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Sareban Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 2 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
An alcohol-free family hotel in Küçük Ayasofya, looking out to the Marmara
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Emirhan Inn Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 3 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
A budget-friendly hotel with free breakfast in Küçük Ayasofya
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Seven Roses Apart Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 3 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
Apartments with kitchens in Küçük Ayasofya, with roomy options for larger families
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Green Life Apart Hotel
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque: 3 min walk (220 m) Walking route
Family-run apartments with kitchenettes and a sea-view roof terrace in Küçük Ayasofya
Frequently asked questions
Is there a stone from the Kaaba in the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque?
Yes. Above the entrance door, in the mihrab, in the minbar and in the gallery are four small stone fragments said to have been brought from the Black Stone of the Kaaba.
