Category: Educational
Type: School
Location: Sultanahmet, Kabasakal Ave. Fatih
Date: 1705
Designer: Kayserili Mehmed Ağa
Period: Ottoman Empire
Photos: Kaan Çorbacı
The Şeyhülislam Mehmed Efendi Madrasa, also known as the Cedid Mehmed Efendi Madrasa and currently serving as the Islamic Experience Center, is a notable example of early eighteenth-century Ottoman educational architecture located in the heart of Sultanahmet. Commissioned in 1705 by Sheikhulislām Elhac Mehmed Efendi, the structure marks a stylistic transition from classical Ottoman forms toward the emerging influences of the Tulip Period. Architecturally, the building follows a traditional courtyard layout with twelve vaulted student cells surrounding an open space, anchored by a large domed dershane, or classroom, which serves as the primary focal point. Its construction utilizes the characteristic Ottoman alternating masonry technique of limestone and brick, creating a rhythmic and durable exterior. Following extensive restoration in the 1980s by the Touring and Automobile Association of Turkey, the complex has been preserved as a cultural hub, bridging its historical legacy as a center of religious learning with its modern role as an interactive space for exploring Islamic arts and heritage.
