Sulaymaniyya Takiyya

Sulaymaniyya Takiyya is a religious complex in Damascus featuring a mosque with twin minarets, a madrasa school, and multiple courtyards arranged around a central rectangular pool. The structure displays distinctive striped patterns of alternating light and dark stone on its walls.

Sultan Suleiman I commissioned this complex between 1554 and 1559, with construction overseen by master architect Mimar Sinan on the former grounds of Selim I's palace. The building marks an important period of Ottoman expansion into Syria.

The complex blends Ottoman architectural traditions with Syrian construction methods, visible in the alternating bands of light and dark stone that decorate the exterior walls. This fusion demonstrates how Ottoman rule incorporated local craftsmanship into larger imperial designs.

The complex operates as an active mosque, so visitors should dress appropriately and expect some areas to have restricted access during prayer times. The best time to explore is outside of prayer hours when more of the site is open to visitors.

The cemetery within the grounds holds the tomb of Mehmed VI, the last Ottoman Sultan, who died in exile in 1926. This burial site marks an unexpected connection between imperial history and a place far from the imperial capital.

Location: Damascus

Inception: 1554

Architects: Mimar Sinan

Architectural style: Ottoman architecture

GPS coordinates: 33.51231,36.29134

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:32