Rustem Pasha Mosque

A Small Mosque Designed By The Architect Sinan In 1563 For The Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha, Known For The Finest Iznik Tile Panels In Istanbul Covering Its Walls, Porch And Mihrab In Red And Blue Tulip And Floral Patterns. A Hidden Jewel Up A Stair Above The Shops, With A Quiet Courtyard Just Minutes From The Spice Bazaar · Fatih, Istanbul

The Rustem Pasha Mosque is a small mosque in the Tahtakale quarter of Istanbul, near the Spice Bazaar in Eminonu on the Golden Horn. It was designed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan and finished about 1563 for Rustem Pasha, grand vizier and son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (confirm). The building stands on a raised platform above a row of vaulted shops that helped pay for its upkeep, and it is entered by a narrow stairway from the street, which is why many visitors miss it. Inside and on the porch, its walls glow with Iznik tile panels of tulips, carnations and geometric designs in a bright tomato red and turquoise that experts count among the finest in the city. The courtyard is small and calm after the noise of the market below. It is still a working mosque, so dress modestly, take off your shoes and avoid prayer times. Plan half an hour inside, and confirm opening hours before visiting.

Rustem Pasha Mosque, a small mosque above the shops of the Tahtakale quarter near the Spice Bazaar in Eminonu, on the Golden Horn in Istanbul; coordinates approximate, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkiye

The mosque is open to visitors outside the five daily prayers, usually from about 09:00 to late afternoon (confirm), and closes to tourists at prayer times, especially around noon on Fridays, when the congregation fills the hall. Prayer times change through the year with the sun, so check the day. The stair entrance is on a shop street that closes at night, and the gate may be locked after sunset. Cleaning and ceremonies can also limit access. Confirm times on the day, and expect a short wait if a prayer is under way.

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