Haseki Hürrem Mosque carries the intriguing story of one of the Ottoman Empire's most famous women, Hürrem Sultan. Commissioned in 1539 by Hürrem herself—wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and famously known in the West as Roxelana—the mosque was designed by the celebrated architect Mimar Sinan. Though modest in size compared to Istanbul’s grand imperial mosques, Haseki Hürrem Mosque charms visitors with its intimate courtyard, refined proportions, and beautifully crafted tilework. As Sinan's first mosque commissioned by a woman, the structure offers a glimpse into the influential role Hürrem Sultan played in shaping Ottoman society and culture. Today, set amid lively local streets filled with shops, eateries, and traditional markets, the mosque invites travelers to uncover a quieter yet equally fascinating side of Istanbul’s rich Ottoman history.