The Zal Mahmud Pasha Mosque (Turkish: Zal Mahmut Paşa Camii) is a serene 16th-century Ottoman architectural gem in Istanbul’s Eyüp district, designed by the legendary imperial architect Mimar Sinan. Part of a larger külliye (charitable complex) endowed by Vizier Zal Mahmud Pasha and his wife Şah Sultan, it exemplifies the blend of piety, patronage, and engineering that defined Ottoman Istanbul.
Completed in 1590, the mosque stands as a testament to the era’s vizierial philanthropy, with its intimate scale and harmonious design offering a peaceful retreat amid the bustling historic peninsula. Its location in Eyüp—near the Golden Horn—reflects the city’s layered Ottoman expansion on Byzantine foundations.
The mosque was commissioned jointly by Şah Sultan (daughter of Sultan Selim II and Nurbanu Sultan) and her second husband, Zal Mahmud Pasha, a Bosnian-born vizier who rose to power under Suleiman the Magnificent. Infamously, Zal Mahmud executed Suleiman’s son Şehzade Mustafa by ...
Nakhon Ratchasima FC (Swatcat) hosts Port FC in a Thai League 1 clash. This mid-table encounter pits a struggling home side against a talented Port squad that has struggled on the road so far this season.
The match will be held at the 80th Birthday Stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima, a multi-purpose venue opened in 2007 to commemorate King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday. With a capacity of around 20,141, it features a single covered grandstand, colorful seating, and a surrounding running track. Part of a larger sports complex, it serves as the primary home for Nakhon Ratchasima FC and hosts various athletic events.
Heading into the fixture, Nakhon Ratchasima sit in 12th place with 7 points from their opening matches, having gone winless in their last five outings and scoring just four goals during that span. Port FC, in contrast, occupy 6th position with 10 points, boasting an impressive 12 goals in their previous five games, with all of them coming at home.
Port FC hold a strong historical ...
The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning “Covered Market”) is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, a sprawling labyrinth of commerce that’s been the beating heart of Istanbul since the 15th century. Located in the Fatih district, between the Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye mosques, it’s a UNESCO-recognized gem that draws 250,000–400,000 visitors daily, blending Ottoman history with vibrant modern energy.
Whether you’re a history buff, a shopper, or just wandering, it’s an essential Istanbul experience—think endless alleys lined with treasures, the scent of spices, and the lively banter of merchants.
Construction began in 1455–56 under Sultan Mehmed II, shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, as a way to boost the city’s economy and fund landmarks like the Hagia Sophia. Originally a modest warehouse for textiles and jewels, it evolved into a massive complex with stone and brick architecture, surviving earthquakes, fires, and even a notorious 1591 theft ...
The Binbirdirek Cistern (Turkish: Binbirdirek Sarnıcı, also known as the Cistern of Philoxenos), located in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district, is the city’s second-largest covered Byzantine cistern after the Basilica Cistern.
This subterranean reservoir, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Areas of Istanbul” (inscribed 1985), once stored up to 40,000 cubic meters of water supplied by the Aqueduct of Valens, serving public and imperial needs during Constantinople’s peak.
With its 224 marble columns (earning the poetic name “Thousand and One Columns”), it offers a quieter, less crowded alternative to the more famous Basilica Cistern, blending atmospheric beauty with profound historical depth.
Historical Significance
Likely built in the 4th century by Roman senator Philoxenos under Emperor Constantine I, or expanded in the 5th–6th century during Justinian I’s reign, it functioned as a castellum divisorium—a distribution point for water from the Aqueduct of Valens ...
