Mimar Sinan

Mimar Sinan is one of the first names that come to mind when we talk about architects in Türkiye…

Born in 1490 in Ağırnas village of Kayseri, Sinaneddin Yusuf aka Koca Mimar Sinan rose to prominence in the field of architecture after being brought to Istanbul as a devshirmeh during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. His journey, which began in the guild of janissaries as an intelligent and skillful young man, transformed him into a great architect by blending him with stone, earth, water and sky. He served as chief architect for three sultans: Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III.

Mimar Sinan traveled across a vast geography, from Kayseri to Istanbul, Mecca to Visegrad, and Syria, leaving behind nearly 400 works.

The bridge he built over the Prut River in just thirteen days not only carried Sultan Suleiman’s army but also immortalized Sinan’s genius.

Sinan’s first masterpiece to grace the Istanbul skyline was the Şehzade Mosque. This work is a testament to his architectural vision.

However, the Süleymaniye Mosque, which he constructed during his journeyman period, is much bigger.

But the Selimiye Mosque, which Sinan completed at the age of 86 and called “my masterpiece”, is a masterpiece that inspired many other works.

Every stone touched by Sinan is a quiet but deep echo of a great civilization. Built with techniques ahead of their time, these works have withstood various events and remain standing to this day. Even today, anyone wandering the streets of Istanbul also follows Sinan’s footsteps.