GOLDEN HORN METRO BRIDGE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge along the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, spanning the Golen Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.

It connects the Beyoglu and Fatish districts on the European side of Istanbul, and is located between the GalataBridge and Ataturk Bridge, approximately 200 m (660 ft) east of the latter.

The bridge enables a direct connection between the Hacıosman metro station in the Sariyer district (at the northern end of the M2 line), with the Yenikapi transport hub in the Fatih district (at the southern end of the M2 line.

--Wiki

THE LIGHT OF ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Savvy photographers start lining up about an hour from sundown along the Galata Bridge.

They aim toward the northwest to photograph the amazing light show -- in red, orange, yellow and purple -- that the sun makes setting over mosques, bridges and water.

BOSPHORUS CRUISE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Tour boats line up to take tourists and locals on magical tours of the Bosphorus.

Some take short tours and turn around near the bridge by Ortakoy.

Some go all the way to the mouth of the Black Sea.

The tours are very inexpensive. 

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

To the right (southeast) of the main entrance to Süleymaniye Mosque is the cemetery, home to the octagonal tombs of Süleyman and his wife Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). 

The tile work surrounding the entrances to both is superb and the ivory-inlaid panels in Süleyman's tomb are lovely.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The main entrance to the Süleymaniye Mosque is accessed from Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, formerly known as Tiryaki Çarşışı (Market of the Addicts).

The buildings here once housed three medreses and a primary school; they're now home to the Süleymaniye Library and a raft of popular streetside fasulye (bean) restaurants that used to be teahouses selling opium (hence the street's former name). 

On the corner of Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi and Şifahane Sokak is the darüşşifa, also under restoration.

The still-functioning Süleymaniye Hamamı is on the eastern side of the mosque.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Süleyman specified that his mosque should have the full complement of public services: imaret (soup kitchen), medrese, hamam, darüşşifa (hospital) etc. 

Today the imaret, with its charming garden courtyard, houses the Daruzziyafe cafe and is a lovely place to enjoy a çay. 

On its right-hand side (north) is a tabhane (inn for travelling dervishes) that was being restored at the time of writing, and on its left-hand side (south) is Lale Bahcesi, a popular tea garden set in a sunken courtyard.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque mihrab (niche in a minaret indicating the direction of Mecca) is covered in fine İznik tiles.

Other interior decoration includes window shutters inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gorgeous stained-glass windows, painted muqarnas (corbels with honeycomb detail), a spectacular persimmon-coloured floor carpet, painted pendentives and medallions featuring fine calligraphy.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

In the garden behind the Süleymaniye Mosque is a terrace offering lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. 

The street underneath once housed the mosque complex's arasta (street of shops), which was built into the retaining wall of the terrace. Close by was a five-level mülazim(preparatory school).

Inside, the building is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity. Sinan incorporated the four buttresses into the walls of the building.

The result is wonderfully 'transparent' (ie open and airy) and highly reminiscent of Aya Sofya, especially as the dome is nearly as large as the one that crowns the Byzantine basilica.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque was built between 1550 and 1557. 

Its setting and plan are particularly pleasing, featuring gardens and a three-sided forecourt with a central domed ablutions fountain. 

The four minarets with their 10 beautiful şerefes (balconies) are said to represent the fact that Süleyman was the fourth of the Osmanlı sultans to rule the city and the 10th sultan after the establishment of the empire.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque crowns one of İstanbul's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn, providing a landmark for the entire city. 

Though it's not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, it is certainly one of the grandest and most beautiful. 

It's also unusual in that many of its original külliye (mosque complex) buildings have been retained and sympathetically adapted for reuse.

Commissioned by Süleyman I, known as 'the Magnificent', the Süleymaniye was the fourth imperial mosque built in İstanbul and it certainly lives up to its patron's nickname.

The mosque and its surrounding buildings were designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous and talented of all imperial architects. 

Sinan's türbe (tomb) is just outside the mosque's walled garden, next to a disused medrese (seminary) building.

--Lonely Planet