The Rustem Pasha Mosque (in Turkish: Rüstem Paşa Camii) dates to 1560. It was designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and was the first time he employed an octagonal layout.
It’s not the grandest mosque and deliberately makes no attempt to try to upstage the much larger Süleymaniye Mosque that towers on the hill above. Instead, it’s nestled in a bustling market area near the Spice Market in Eminonu. Instead, the mosque’s wealthy benefactor, Rüstem Pasha, a son-in-law of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566), focused on details, especially on the interior decorations.
The colored tiles used inside are a particular highlight. They were produced during the golden age of Iznik tiling. Because red was hard to glaze into a tile at the time, its use here was particularly distinctive.
Photos of Rustem Pasha Mosque
[license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
Rustem Pasha Mosque. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
Blue and green were relatively easy colors to incorporate into tiles at the time, but red was much more difficult (and therefore much rarer). [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
[license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
Street vendors selling shoes on the street adjacent to the mosque. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
The prayer hall. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
A massive chandelier hangs low over the middle of the prayer hall. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
[license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
The courtyard. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
A closer view of the middle of the dome ceiling. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
Rustem Pasha Mosque. [license topic=”Rustem Pasha Mosque Istanbul”]
What to Know Before You Go
Where to Next?
Travel Advice for Turkey
You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Turkey (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.
The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Turkey here and the Australian Government's here.
Health & Vaccinations
The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Turkey here.
Guidebooks for Turkey
If you're looking for a guidebook to make the most of your visit, these are some of the most popular ones currently for Turkey. Some are available in both paper and e-book formats.
- Fodor's Travel Guides (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Lonely Planet
- Bainbridge, James (Author)
- Aran, Lale Surmen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- DK Eyewitness (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Travel Insurance For Your Trip to Turkey
I never travel without travel insurance, and I've run into several situations where I've had to make claims. I consider it essential.
But shopping for travel insurance can be a pain and confusing. Thankfully, there are some travel insurance comparison sites that show you a wide range of plans, make it easy to compare coverage, and can save you money at the same time. And the coverage can be much better tailored to your specific needs than the checkbox offering at travel booking sites or through your credit card.
These are some good places to shop for travel insurance for your next trip to Turkey :
Hopefully, you won't need it, but if something goes wrong, you'll sure be glad you have it!
