An imposing monument located just inside the city walls, the Mihrimah Mosque complex was built by Sinan between 1562 and 1565. Mihrimah, the daughter of Suleyman the Magnificent, was then the recently widowed wife of Rüstern Pasa, a grand vizier who gave his name to the tiled mosque near the Spice Bazaar .
This mosque rests on a platform, occupying the highest point in the city. Its profile is visible from far away on the Bosphorus and also when approaching Istanbul from Edirne. The building is square in shape, with four strong turrets at its corners, and is surmounted by a 37-m (121-ft) high dome. The single minaret is tall and slender, so much so that it has twice been destroyed by earthquakes. On the second occasion, in 1894, the minaret crashed through the roof of the mosque. The 20th-century stencilling on the inside of the prayer hall was added following this accident.
The interior is illuminated by numerous windows, some of which have stained glass. The supporting arches of the sultan's loge have been skilfully painted to resemble green-and-white marble. The carved marble minbar is also impressive. ( Sulukule Cad, Edimekapi. ) (s1)

The complex is located on Fevzi Paşa Street at the entrance to Edirnekapi by the city walls. It was built by Sultan suleyman the Magnificent for his daughter Mihrimah and designed by Architect Sinan. Miiioiigh the exact date is unknown, it is thought that construction of the complex was completed in i In I'ldO'v It was composed of a mosque, medresse, double liamam, shrine, market and primary school, many of which no longer remain today.
I he mosque measures 37 metres high its foundations and lias a single 20 metre-high dome It differs from other mosques of the period in that it has a single minaret. Another distinction is the l.ngr number of windows: 101 in all. The marble pulpit is one of the finest of the period. The shutters of the window and door are made ol wood inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl.
A medresse is located in two corners of the inner courtyard. Interestingly though, there is no schoolroom section. It is not known whether there were no schools originally or if they were removed during renovation or repairs. Apart from this, the medresse has survived intact.
The primary school and tomb of Guzel Ahmed Pasa are found in ihe right hand corner of the mosque's kiblah, a structure indicating the direction of Mecca A double hamam is found in the same area, but is separate from the complex Nothing remains of the market today. (s2)