Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Camii (Kadırga)

The mosque of the complex that Mimar Sinan built in Kadırga for the grand vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and his wife İsmihan Sultan. According to its inscription it was completed in 1571-72. Set on a steep slope, it resolves the gradient with a two-storey courtyard, with shops below and madrasa rooms above. Six supports carry the 13-metre dome of this hexagon-in-rectangle plan, which the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam calls the most flawless application of the six-support system. The qibla wall, pendentives and window areas are clad in high-quality İznik tiles, and the cap of the marble minbar is also tiled. Admired for the harmony of tile and architecture, it is one of Sinan's most celebrated works and is open for worship.