It so happened that in the summer of 2013 in Istanbul from Kiev, I flew twice. For the first time a week with a friend, we drank the historic center of the city, living in a hotel in the Sultanahmet district. The second time - herself, in August, and lived from a friend who knows the city well. In July, we did not manage to visit the Sulimania Mosque. While we learned about her, Friday came, evening. In addition, the mosque is located in the old part of Istanbul, in the Veft area. It is not Sultanahmet, where we lived, so without a fellow traveler who knows the city, we would not reach. We fell to the nearby mosque with a fellow traveler just during the mandatory prayer of Muslims and meals after the post. That is, we would simply not be allowed inside due to religious customs. And on Saturday, our friend worked, we flew on Sunday. Therefore, to visit this second value and the first size of the Istanbul mosque, calculated on more than 5 thousand believers, I was able to with my friend only in August.
What is the famous this mosque? By the fact that the order of Sultan Suleiman is magnificent. In Ukraine, there is a symbol - this is Roksolana: the girl Anastasia Lisovo from Western Ukraine, which the Crimean Tatars were painted at the beginning of the 16th century (captured) and sold on the slave market. By the will of the case, Nastya was in the Harem of Suleiman and she soon became his beloved wife Roksolanaya, she is Haseki, she is Hurm. On the territory of the mosque she with Sultan and buried. I am from Ukraine, and to visit the burial of Roksolana was a matter of honor.
At the height of the dome, the mosque exceeds the Museum of Ayia Sofia, but in width he is inferior to him. Nevertheless, we are talking about 53 meters in height and 26.5 meters in diameter. The mosque traditionally has 4 minaret. Some explain this by the fact that Suleiman was the fourth padishah after the conquest of Istanbul Turks. In the first two minarets placed two balconies, on the following - three, and ten times. In this number, Magic also lies: Suleiman was the tenth of the ruler of the Ottoman Empire.
To get directly in the mosque, it was necessary to go through a lot of foot from the subway, and then resemble the territory of the complex, in size, I would say a small urban quarter. There are baths, madrasas, kitchens, libraries, hospitals and observatory. More precisely - were.
There were many pilgrims in the mosque. Do not take care of the board. As I understood, the mosque is acting (no wonder we were not allowed in July). To enter inside, you need to remove shoes and either leave it at the entrance, or put in the cellophane bag, which is issued. You also need to cover your head. I also find a handkerchief at the entrance. At first I forgot about this procedure and wanted to enter sneakers: I immediately appeared a man who stopped me and delicately reminded that I had to remove the shoes. I was in jeans and a T-shirt; No one forced me to wear a dress or something like that. The shoulders and head were covered, apparently, this is enough.
In the mosque itself it was beautiful: 136 windows, some of them are decorated with stained glass windows. In addition, the giant chandeliers are hanging in the center of the mosque with a lot of lights. Excerpts from the Koran are hanging on the walls, the walls are made in the form of arches and with columns. Paul sent a huge red carpet. There were no problems with photographing. However, it was forbidden to enter the territory for believers.
On the territory of a quarter, in the courtyard of the mosque, is a cemetery. And next to there is a small extension, where they are not allowed, apparently, from the influx of tourists they are saved. It is allowed to photograph the inside of an extension from one open window. There are three coffins in this extension. They lie to Sultan Suleiman Fourth, his beloved wife Roksolana (she is Nastya Lisovskaya) and their daughter Mihrimah. Interestingly, it is dark enough at the indoors. And the walls are smelted by white-blue ceramics known in Turkey.
In the courtyard there is also a podber, where you can go to the toilet for free.
Excursion will definitely be interested in lovers of history and culture. Little children here will be bored, but the elderly will probably enjoy it, as it is calm and beautiful here. I went through the mosque yourself, I did not see any groups with guides.
If you want to visit the mosque, first examine the map. My friend who knows Istanbul was visiting me. I repeat, along the way you can get lost. Secondly, find out when it is possible to enter it, so that it does not work out that you fell on time of prayer or post. It is best to do it in the afternoon to four hours. Remember that in Istanbul in Russian and in English says a little people, so it is better to clearly explore the route or find someone local who will help you get there and back.
All friends I advise you to visit this fabulous mosque. Now I know where the symbol of Ukraine is buried - Roksolana.
