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The Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (Sokollu Mehmet Paşa Camii) is a historic mosque in the Azapkapı neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey. It’s located on the Golden Horn next to the Atatürk Bridge.
History of the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque
The mosque was built between 1573 and 1578 and was designed by legendary architect Mimar Sinan (c. 1490-1588). It was commissioned by Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and is one of three mosques in Istanbul with the same name built by Mimar Sinan. The others are in Kadırga and Büyükçekmece. The mosque is also known as the Azapkapı Mosque (Azapkapı Camii).
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha was the Grand Vizier to Süleyman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III. He was born into a Serbian Orthodox Christian family and taken away as part of the devşirme system. After serving as a Jannisary, he rose through the ranks of the Ottoman imperial system, serving as Grand Admiral (Kaptan-ı Derya) from 1546 to 1551; Governor-General of Rumelia from 1551 to 1555; Third Vizier from 1555 to 1561; Second Vizier from 1561 to 1565; and eventually Grand Vizier from 1565 to 1579. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha was assassinated in 1579. He’s buried in a tomb in Eyüp near his wife, Ismihan Sultan.
The Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque was damaged by fire in 1807. It was renovated before World War I, but due to the war it sat in ruins for many years. It only reopened to worship in 1941 after a three year renovation process.
Features of the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque
The mosque has no courtyard. There’s only one minaret, which sits to the left of the entrance because the mosque was built too close to the shoreline. Minarets usually sit to the right.
To reach the prayer hall, you must climb a staircase then pass through a narthex. The mosque is rectangular in shape with a main dome that rests on eight arches.
Saliha Sultan Fountain
At the western end of Tersane Street is the Saliha Sultan Fountain (Saliha Sultan Çeşmesi). It was built by Saliha Sultan, the mother of Mahmud I, between 1732 and 1733. The architect was Kayserili Mustafa Ağa. Saliha Sultan was thought to have been born in Azapkapı to a Greek family and spent her childhood there.
Yeşildirek Şifa Hamam
Finally, across the street is the Yeşildirek Şifa Hamam (Yeşildirek Şifa Hamamı). It was once part of the mosque complex. The hamam has been rebuilt several times and has lost its original appearance.
