Rustem Pasha Mosque

Not as grand as some of the other mosques in Istanbul, but its Iznik tiling is spectacular. It's worth a visit for that alone. Dedicated to the Grand Vizier to Suleiman the Great, it sits beneath that great man's mosque, and is quietly splendid in its own way.

The mosque is noted for the many different designs of İznik tiles that cover almost every vertical surface both in the interior and under the entrance.

This mosque is cleverly tucked away in the busy area of the spice bazaar. The entrance can be difficult to find, but if you manage to make your way inside, you will be rewarded with an interior much more blue than the Blue Mosque. The tile work, all hand painted, was the most impressive that I saw in all of Istanbul. Almost every surface in the mosque is covered in various shades of blue in beautiful patterns. Due to its location, it’s very quaint and does not have many tourist visitors.

Excellent tile decorations. One of the best 16th century buildings of the Ottoman Empire. If this place had been built larger like Suleymaniye, it would definitely be a serious center of attraction. Even in this state, the fact that it contains all the tile motifs dating back to its time makes it extremely important. There is even a sketch in a small tile on the right side of the entrance. In the interior of the mosque, there are two corridors on the left and right, separated by columns; A very nice detail that adds depth. Tile motifs change as you move along the corridor. The pattern moving into the vase on the altar is very nice. When the beautiful calligraphy examples on the upper parts of the door come together with the tiles, it adds a complex texture adorned with excellent detail. Its marble pulpit is carved and its back is visible. A person praying in the first row can see the person at the end while saluting, even if he is on the other side of the pulpit. The current simplicity of Mimber marble is reminiscent of 14th century works. This simple structure is like a signature in the Ottoman classical style. A small but dense apse is provided by intertwined domes. When you lift your head up, an all-encompassing atmosphere draws you in. No matter where you look in the mosque, small or small, the gold leaf decorations you encounter are distributed so evenly that they are like a wink, a reference to the daring stance of the Eastern style, which does not get lost in the confused seas, but can still get what it wants just as much. Wherever you see these gold leaves, you will immediately see that the base is a plain, solid marble. Just like the decorations on the inner-upper part of the door at the entrance and on the altar. This assertive golden ornament is balanced with a plain background. If you look at the mosque from the outside, from the Galata side, you will notice a magnificent, singular, bold stance built on the outskirts of Suleymaniye. The perfect, classical stance of the mosque, which has a greyish, stone color, ends with a golden finial at the top. Rather than going towards blue like other domes, it has sailed towards a greyish, dark color. And when we wonder how many more exterior details there could be, we come across three magnificent small domes adjacent to the main dome, and those domes remind us of a single man: Sinan the Architect.

One of the most amazing views on the city of Istanbul, from this spot you can see the European side of the city and the Asian side as well with the bridge in between. This spot is facing the Galata Tour which is the most iconic building of Istanbul. Unfortunately we only discovered this place on our last day, it was a nice way to say goodbye to the city

One of the most beautiful buildings in the world. An absolute gem of beautiful Iznik tiles and Sinan’s amazing architecture. Quiet and uncrowded. Be sure to know when prayers are being held as public access is restricted during that time. Great little souvenir stand and helpful guided. Don’t miss this.

This mosque is a bit hidden in the market area and looks unassuming from outside, but the interior is really impressive. The blue tiles give this mosque a really serene and calm atmosphere, so it's a nice stop to just sit and enjoy the quiet while resting after exploring the busy market area. One of the best places to admire İznik tilework in Istanbul.

Entrance to the mosque is up some nondescript stairs from the market. More blue than the Blue Mosque and much smaller and less busy when I visited

"Rustem Pasha Mosque" The Rustem Pasha Mosque was designed by Ottoman imperial architect. The Rustem Pasha Mosque is famous for its large quantities of exquisite Iznik tiles, that's what differentiates this mosque from the others as No other mosque in Istanbul makes such a lavish use of these tiles. The mosque is quite old as it was built around 1561 until 1563. It's not as large as the Blue Mosque or the Suleymaniye Mosque; it is nonetheless impressive and welcoming.

Went to a few mosques including the famous Blue Mosque but must say, that this is my favourite of them all!! A gem tucked away off one of the alleyways in the Egyptian Bazaar. Climbing up the back stairs, you suddenly feel transported to another time/era and the big reveal of the mosque entrance. Fantastic example of the use of the gorgeous Iznik tiles!Non muslims can enter freely.A must visit.