One of the largest mosques in Istanbul is the New Mosque (or New Valide Sultan Mosque). The construction of the mosque began in 1597. It was ordered by Sultana Safiye, who was the wife of Sultan Murad III. The architect of the mosque became an apprentice of Sinan, Davut Aga. The walls on the level of the first window were erected during the first year, but the construction was suspended and resumed only in 1660 by an architect Mustafa Aga Hasan. The construction was finished in 1663.
The mosque is crowned with 66 domes and two minarets. The height of the main dome is 36 meters, it is supported by four semi-domes.
