The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, located in Üsküdar on the Asian side of Istanbul, carries with it not only architectural beauty but also a touching story from the Ottoman period.

Built in 1548, the mosque was commissioned by Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan. Mihrimah was a highly influential princess, known for her intelligence, beauty, and her close relationship with her father. The mosque was designed by the famous architect Mimar Sinan.

The name "Mihrimah" itself is symbolic, meaning "Sun and Moon" in Persian, and this celestial connection is said to have inspired the design of her two mosques: one in Üsküdar and another in Edirnekapı on the European side of Istanbul. According to legend, on Mihrimah Sultan's birthday, March 21 (the spring equinox), something remarkable happens. If one stands in a place where both mosques are visible, they can witness the sun setting behind the Edirnekapı mosque while the moon rises over the Üsküdar mosque.

The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar is smaller and simpler compared to her other mosque but has a serene beauty, reflecting the calm and grace associated with the princess.

The sea from our romantic escape. So warm and sensual, just like us, the lovers.

This çeşme, located in the cherished district of Üsküdar, was ordered by Sultan Ahmed III and dedicated to his mother. Constructed between 1728 and 1729, the fountain features taps above troughs, which were used for filling buckets, watering animals, and performing ritual cleansing before prayer. Taps positioned above basins at the corners provided drinking water for the public. The fountain is beautifully adorned with inscriptions of poetry and verses from notable Ottoman poets. On the wall facing the Bosphorus, one can find verses inspired by Sultan Ahmed III, written in calligraphy by the Sultan himself.

My Partner always shares his special places with me. That day, it was a coffee shop with a view of a mosque, a spot where he had spent many hours working. There’s something so intimate about knowing that a place holds pieces of his story.

He surprised me with daisies that day—their fragrance was the sweetest. I sketched this one with so much love inside me.

Have you been to Mersin? Imagine a city along the coastline where the deep blue sea crashes against the rocks. As the sun dips low, the whole city, with its narrow alleys, is bathed in warm golden light. Imagine aged ruins standing silently, whispering tales and legends of ancient civilizations.

My man and I were sitting on the quiet balcony of a coffee shop while he worked, and I sketched this view. Enjoyed using vibrant colors, which brought the scene dynamic and intensity. You don’t need rules to use colors; you just feel them.