English: built by a Greek architect, Simon, who in the opinion of Strolling Through Istanbul (Redhouse, 1989) produced "a failure, but a charming one". I fell for its spell ages ago, not the least because crossing its awkwardly formed "shortcut" from the Covered Market side to the exit at the other side provides a short moment of rest in the busy city. If you want some more rest, the mosque is spacious and quiet. The mosque was begun by Sultan Mahmut I in 1748 and finished by his brother and successor, Osman III in 1755. In mosques a box called Hünkar mahfili was a space where the sultan could attend the service without being seen (or only partially because of a grating). It would often be raised and afford privacy as well as safety from murder attempts. It would often connect to the Hünkar kasrı, a set of rooms with generally their own entrance, for the sultan and his retinue.