The construction of the Süleymaniye Mosque started in June 13, 1550, by Sinan the Architect, upon the order of Süleyma the Magnificent, the 10th sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The first stone to the foundation of the mosque was put by Sheyk ul-Islam Ebussuud Efendi, a significant scholar. Despite the limited opportunities of the time, the mosque was completed in a short period like seven years and it was opened by Sinan the Architect on June 7, 1557 with a big ceremony. It is one of the outstanding examples of classical Ottoman architecture. Sinan the Architect called Süleymaniye mosque as his “foremanship work” and made the acoustic inside the mosque perfect using different techniques. The main dome is 53 meters high and has a diameter of 27.5 meters. It is carried by four large pillars called the elephant foot. The main dome is supported by two half-domes, as in Hagia Sophia.
Four minarets on four sides of the courtyard represent that Süleyman the Magnificent was the fourth Ottoman Sultan after the conquest of Istanbul while ten minaret balconies represent that he was the 10th sultan of the Ottoman. The complex, overlooking the Golden Horn, Marmara, Topkapı Palace and Bosphorus from the highest hill in the middle, includes mosque, madrasa, hospital, a specialized school for learning hadith, bath, poorhouse, restaurant, library and shops. The tombs of Süleyman the Magnificent and Sinan the Architect are also within this complex.