ISTANBUL: SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE

The Süleymaniye Mosque is a magnificent hilltop structure built in the 16th century at the behest of, and named after,Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent in Istanbul, Turkey. It was designed by Sinan, one of the foremost architects of his era and the chief architect to Süleyman for nearly 28 years. Sinan's portfolio is extensive—79 mosques, 34 palaces, 33 public baths, 19 tombs, 55 schools, 16 poorhouses, 7 madrasahs (religious schools), and 12 caravansaries, along with granaries, fountains, aqueducts, and hospitals; a true overachiever.

Its location on the Third Hill it commands an extensive view of the city around the Golden Horn, which is the major urban waterway and primary inlet of the Bosphorous.