Koca Sinan Pasha Madrasa

Madrasahs are higher education-oriented buildings, which are generally located in the kulliyes during the Ottoman period. At this point, the Koca Sinan Pasha Madrasa, on the street between Sultanahmet and Beyazıt Square, in the Fatih district of Istanbul, also very close to the Grand Bazaar, is one of the buildings located within the Koca Sinan Pasha Complex. Today, there is also a fountain and a tomb in the said complex.

Koca Sinan Pasha Madrasa, which is often identified with Mimar Sinan, was originally responsible for Koca Sinan Pasha. Pasha, an important statesman who served as grand vizier to two Ottoman sultans in the 16th century, is therefore often confused with Mimar Sinan.

The madrasa draws attention with its courtyard, fountain and pointed arched portico before entering. The date of completion of the madrasah, which was built by the Ottoman chief architect Davut Ağa, who succeeded Mimar Sinan, is recorded as 1594.

As in many Ottoman madrasahs, the building, which had a classroom and 16 cells, accommodated a total of 32 students, two in each chamber. There is also a stove in each cell for the heating needs of the students.

The foundations, domes, decaying parts, lead coatings and fountain of the madrasa, whose restoration works have been carried out since 2010, were overhauled. In the Koca Sinan Pasha Madrasa, which started to serve as a foundation in 2015 with its revival, various events and courses are organized today.