Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque was built for the 9th Ottoman Sultan, Selim I, also known as Selim the Grim or Selim the Resolute.
The 5th Hill
The mosque stands on the 5th hill of Istanbul’s historical peninsula. Interestingly, it was constructed over a Byzantine cistern, reflecting the historical narrative that the Ottomans, in a sense, continued the legacy of the Roman Empire. The hill on which the mosque is located is the closest to the Golden Horn, making the mosque easily recognizable when viewed from across the water.
Construction of the Mosque
Construction began in 1522, meaning the mosque was completed after Selim’s death but before the time of the great architect Mimar Sinan. Selim’s son and successor, Suleyman the Magnificent, later completed the unfinished parts of the mosque and finalized the entire complex.
The Concept of a Complex (Külliye)
It is worth noting that mosques commissioned for Ottoman sultans are called Selatin (Sultans’) mosques. These are typically built as large complexes (külliye), which include not only the mosque itself but also guesthouses, a soup kitchen, a hammam, schools, and shrines.
Visiting Information
The mosque, as the other mosques in Istanbul, is open to visit all day except during the prayer times. Plan your visit at least an hour before or after the prayer time for a comfortable visit. Friday prayer tends to be crowded, so if you are planning to visit the mosque on Friday, avoid the mid-day hours, meaning 11:00 - 14:00.
Find up-to-date prayer times in the following link: https://namazvakitleri.diyanet.gov.tr/en-US/9206/prayer-time-for-ankara
