High on Istanbul’s fifth hill stands the Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii. Its silhouette cuts a striking figure against the skyline overlooking the Golden Horn. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned this grand mosque. He dedicated it to the memory of his father, Selim I.
The Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii is the second oldest imperial mosque still standing in Istanbul. This makes it a unique window into the city’s rich Ottoman past. It was the fourth imperial complex built after the fall of Constantinople. Only the Bayezid Mosque is older.
Alaüddin, the architect, completed the Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii in 1527 or 1528. Some tried to credit Mimar Sinan with the design. But no evidence supports this claim. The mosque’s early date precedes Sinan’s rise to prominence. However, Sinan did design one of the türbes, or tombs, in the garden.
The mosque sits atop a terrace overlooking the Cistern of Aspar. This was the largest of Constantinople’s Roman reservoirs. A large courtyard greets visitors. It features a colonnaded portico. The columns are crafted from diverse types of marble and granite.
Inside the Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii, the interior plan is simple. It is a square room measuring 24.5 meters on each side. A shallow dome covers the room. The dome rises to a height of 32.5 meters. Polychrome cuerda seca tiles decorate the windows with lunette panels. These tiles share similarities with those in Topkapı Palace. Iranian craftsmen likely made them.
Twin minarets flank the Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii. They add to the mosque’s majestic presence. The mosque also has noticeably different interior decoration from mosques constructed later. This feature makes the Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii unique and beautiful.
Behind the Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii lies a garden. The türbe of Sultan Selim I stands here. It was completed in 1523. The building is octagonal. Its porch features panels of unique tile designs. Selim I ruled for only eight years. Yet, he expanded the Ottoman Empire by 70%. He conquered the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt in 1517. This gave the Ottomans control of the Islamic holy lands. Selim became the first Ottoman Caliph.
Another octagonal türbe holds the tombs of Suleiman’s sons and Selim I’s daughters. It dates from 1556. Mimar Sinan is credited with its design.
A third türbe belongs to Sultan Abdülmecid I. It was built shortly before his death in 1861. He was the 31st sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
The Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii offers spectacular views of Istanbul. It is less crowded than other mosques. This makes it a peaceful place to appreciate Ottoman history and architecture. The Yavuz Selim Merkez Camii stands as a testament to a powerful dynasty. It also represents a pivotal period in Islamic history.