Commissioned by Sultan Selim II and built by Mimar Sinan in the 16th century, this Islamic architecture masterpiece is the most elegant summary of Ottoman architectural philosophy. The interiors and exteriors are highly symmetrical, a distinctive feature that was designed to draw the eye and centralise the rapidly expanding city. The highlights to notice are:

• How, unusually for mosques, this one was designed to appear to be a single unit rather than multiple ones.
• The four up-shooting minarets that focus attention on the central dome (they are the second tallest in the world).
• The humbly decorated interiors, with a great number of small windows that filter in the light.
• The highly ornately decorated dome.
• The calligraphy on the dome.

The mosque is in the centre of a kulliye (a neighbourhood complex consisting of a row of shops, a time-keepers rooms and a madrassa).

• In general, avoid visiting mosques as tourists on Friday.
• Don’t visit if there are worshippers present.

• Walk or take a taxi

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