Everyone photographs Süleymaniye Mosque but misses the incredible complex around it. The original design by Sinan included a hospital, schools, kitchens, baths, and tombs all integrated into one architectural masterpiece.

Walk around the entire complex to see how Ottoman urban planning worked. The cemetery behind the mosque has amazing views over the Golden Horn, and various historical buildings throughout the complex showcase different functions.

The proportion system Sinan used here influenced mosque design for centuries. Notice how the domes cascade down in perfect mathematical harmony - classic example of hierarchical geometry in Islamic architecture.