Rüstem Pasha Medrese, Ottoman educational complex in Fatih, Turkey.
The Rüstem Pasha Medrese is an Ottoman educational building in Istanbul with an octagonal courtyard ringed by 24 marble columns. Each column supports its own small dome, creating a series of covered spaces for study and gathering.
The architect Mimar Sinan built this medrese between 1550 and 1557 for Rüstem Pasha, Grand Vizier under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It served as a center for Islamic and legal studies during the Ottoman Empire's height of power and influence.
The medrese is named after Rüstem Pasha, a powerful Ottoman administrator who shaped policy during a prosperous era. It reflects how elite families invested in education and Islamic scholarship as sources of prestige and influence.
The medrese sits near Hoca Hani Street in the Çagaloglu neighborhood and welcomes visitors interested in Ottoman architecture. It is located in the historic center of the city and can be reached easily by local transport.
The building was ingeniously set on a sloping hillside, using chambers of varying sizes to smoothly transition from the octagonal interior shape to a square exterior form. This clever design solution allowed the architect to make full use of a challenging terrain.
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