This is the Muradiye mosque, by the greatest Turkish architect, Sinan. It is one of his last works, from 1582-1585, who built it for Murat III.

The hall in front.

The six pillars of this northern portico are of antique origin; they support five small domes.
The calligraphic inscriptions on the Iznik tile panels above the windows are Kuran verses.
The slightly elevated areas left and right of the passage way to the main entrance are the ‘son cemaat yeri’ (= ‘area for those who came late’), where worshippers who reached the mosque late or at the last moment, will gather and fulfill their prayer duty.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Guides Bleus: Turquie’ – Edition 1986.
& ‘Türkye Tarihi Yerler Kılavuzu’ – M.Orhan Bayrak, Inkılâp Kitabevi, Istanbul, 1994.