This mosque is in the Nalburlar Bazaar in Tahtakale near the Spice Market. It was constructed by Architect Sinan in 1561 with the order of Grand Vizier Rüstern Pasha. He was the most powerful administrators of his time. He and Ibrahim Pasha were the most significant grand viziers of the era of Süleyman the Magnificent. The land Rüstern Pasha proposed for the construction of the mosque was not suitable. Therefore, Sinan constructed the mosque on a podium composed of shops. In this way the mosque was so high and can be seen from everywhere. The courtyard of the mosque is quite small and it is on the podium which is also ascended with stairs. The last congregation place has 2 rows of columns and 5 domes. The plan of the mosque is rectangular. The central dome was seated on four main columns and other columns with arches and its two sides were separated into three through arches. After that, they were covered with vaults. That is to say, the dome is seated upon 8 supports and it is supported with 4 arches and 4 semi-domes. All the internal and partially external wails are decorated with the most precious tiles of the time. Covering the external side is a type of ornamentation not encountered in other mosques.
The tiles were produced in the workshops in Iznik established with the order of Selim I and they are the most precious pieces produced. To produce such high quality tiles could have been financed only by such a rich administrator as Rüstern Pasha. The red tiles at the south-east wall of the mosque are the most attractive ones. The red color is obtained from a particular soil called Bolus, which includes iron-oxide. The most common figures on the tiles are tulips and geometrical patterns.(s4)

Raised above the busy shops and warehouses around the Spice Bazaar, this mosque was built in 1561 by the great architect Sinan  for Rüstem Paşa, son-in-law of and grand vizier to Süleyman I . Rents from the businesses in the bazaar were intended to pay for the upkeep of the mosque.
The staggering wealth of its decoration says something about the amount of money that the corrupt Rüstern managed to salt away during his career. Most of the interior is covered in İznik tiles of the very highest quality.
The four piers are adorned with tiles of one design but the rest of the prayer hall is a riot of different patterns, from abstract to floral. Some of the finest tiles can be found on the galleries. All in all, there is no other mosque in the city adorned with such a magnificent blanket of tiles.
The mosque is also notable for its numerous windows: it was built with as many as the structure would allow. (s1)

The mosque is located in the Hasırcılar market of Tahtakale in I lie district of Eminönü . It is one of the most important structures making up Istanbul s skyline. Situated on a high platform with a i ommanding view of the city, the mosque was built on the former site ol Hacı Halil Mescıd. The location of the mosque is one of the busiest m the city and has been since Roman times . Prime Minister Rüstem l'aşa , one of the leading state officials and proponents of construction, also had a role in the building of Süleymaniye Camii. He was the husband of Süleyman, the Magnificent's daughter, Hürrem Sultan , and was known for the buildings he had constructed throughout the Empire. The mosque was designed by Architect Sınan and completed by Hürrem Sultan after the death of her husband, Prime Minister Rüstem Paşa. The mosque was damaged in the Great Fire of 1666 and the earthquake ofl776.
A portion of these valuable tiles have been stolen. The interior of the mosque, apart from the dome, is covered with coloured İznik tiles which are the best examples from a technical and design perspective. All the classic motifs can be found on the tiles, including fruit and flower forms. Other than dazzling tiles, the coloured porphyry marble is worth seeing.
The central main dome is supported by four half-domes. The base of the dome contains 74 windows, and its arches are supported by octagonal elephant feet. The mosque niche and pulpit are made of marble. The area designated for late-arriving worshippers has six pillars and five domes. The minaret, with its single gallery, replaces the original, which was torn down. (s2)