Forget about the superlatives such as this is the largest mosque in Istanbul. What captured my imagination is that the Süleymaniye is a vast religious complex that blends tall, slender minarets with large domed buildings supported by half domes in the style of Byzantine churches such as the Hagia Sophia. For me, the beauty of this mosque is that it is less thronged by tourists and more welcoming. I cast my mind back to our visit to the Blue Mosque and where we were herded like cattle into the mosque because it was 15 minutes before closing time. At the Süleymaniye Mosque, it was a more relaxed affair, where visitors were welcomed and small chat was exchanged: "Where are you from?". Inside, one could sit on the carpet, take stock, soak in the silence, and simply admire the architecture.
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| The monumental courtyard of exceptional grandeur with colonnaded columns of marble and granite |
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| At the four corners of the courtyard are the four minarets. Four minarets are permissible in mosques endowed by a sultan, in this case Suleiman I |
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| The vast interior of the Süleymaniye Mosque Restrained if a touch underwhelming, but this is a place of worship after all |
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| The main dome of Süleymaniye Mosque, flanked by semi-domes and to he north and south arches by windows, supported by enormous monoliths |
