Things to Do in Şehzadeler: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Şehzadeler

• 2 Historic
• 2 Religious

1 🕌 Religious

Sultan Mosque

Built in 1522 by Hafsa Sultan, mother of Suleiman the Magnificent, this mosque is the most important Ottoman structure in Manisa. A madrasa, hammam and imaret are also located within the complex.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Manisa Museum

Showcases the region's archaeological and ethnographic riches, especially the finds from the ancient city of Sardes.

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i Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source

3 🏛️ Historic

Niobe Rock (Weeping Rock)

A rock relief on the slopes of Mount Sipylus, associated with the Niobe legend from Greek mythology. It is thought to be a Hittite-period relief of a mother goddess dating to the 13th century BC.

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4 🕌 Religious

Manisa Mevlevihane

The oldest Mevlevî lodge at the foot of Mount Spil, dating from the Saruhanid period.

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While you are in Şehzadeler, you can also see the highlights of Manisa province. These places are in other districts.

• Sardis (Sart) Ancient City — 9 km from Salihli, Sardis was the capital of the Lydian Kingdom and is famous for its Roman-era gymnasium and bath complex, one of the largest ancient synagogues in Anatolia and the giant Temple of Artemis.
• Temple of Artemis at Sardis — One of the largest Ionic temples in Anatolia, begun in the Hellenistic period and continued under the Romans; two of its columns are still standing.
• Sultan Mosque and Hafsa Sultan Hospital (Darüşşifa) — A complex built in 1522 by Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, mother of Suleiman the Magnificent, made up of a mosque, madrasa, imaret (soup kitchen), hammam and a darüşşifa (hospital) where the mentally ill were also treated.
• Muradiye Mosque — The mosque of the complex designed by Mimar Sinan in 1583–1585 for Murad III; with its two minarets and the İznik tiles of the interior, it is the most elegant Ottoman building in Manisa.
• Mount Spil National Park — A national park on the border of Manisa and Izmir, declared in 1968; it is known for its yılkı horses (feral horses), where old horses have been left to roam since Ottoman times, for the endemic Manisa tulip and for the Atalanı plateau.
• Weeping Rock (Niobe) — A rock in the Çaybaşı neighbourhood, at the exit of Mount Spil, associated with the legend of Niobe, who lost her children and wept until she turned to stone.

Practical Information for Visiting Şehzadeler

Suggested time

1–2 days

Best time to visit

March (Mesir Macunu Festival), spring and autumn

Places to visit

4 places

• 🍖

  Manisa Kebabı

  Lamb marinated in special spices and cooked, the best-known dish of the city.

• 🍬

  Mesir Macunu (Mesir paste)

  Made from 41 kinds of spices and herbs, Mesir Macunu has been produced since 1539 and is a traditional product on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Şehzadeler

• 🎉

  Mesir Macunu Festival

  The International Mesir Macunu Festival, held every March, begins with the sprinkling of mesir paste from the Sultan Mosque. It was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2012.

• 👑

  Şehzade Tradition

  In the Ottoman period, Manisa was an important city where princes (şehzades) served as sancak governors. The district's name refers to this tradition.

Local Products

• Mesir Macunu (Mesir paste) — Made from 41 kinds of spices and herbs, Mesir Macunu was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2012.
• Grapes — Manisa is one of Türkiye's most important grape-producing centres. Sultana grapes are world-famous.

Economy

Şehzadeler is one of the two central districts of Manisa. Trade, the service sector and agriculture are the main economic activities.

How to Get to Şehzadeler

Şehzadeler is part of Manisa city centre. It is 40 km from İzmir.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Manisa

Şehzadeler: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Şehzadeler Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Manisa The province's 12 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Manisa

• Ahmetli 3 places Ahmetli Mosque, Gediz Plain Views and Çakıcı Mehmet Efe Bridge
• Akhisar 4 places Thyateira Ancient City, Akhisar Grand Mosque and Akhisar Archaeology Museum
• Alaşehir 3 places Philadelphia Ancient City, Alaşehir Grand Mosque and Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque
• Demirci 3 places Demirci Mansions, Demirci Grand Mosque and Demirci Mountains
• Gölmarmara 7 places Lake Marmara, Gölmarmara Mosque and Halime Hatun Complex
• Gördes 3 places Gördes Carpet Museum, Gördes Dam and Gördes (Kum Çayı) stream
• Kırkağaç 6 places Nakrasa, Stratonikeia and Kırkağaç Grand Mosque
• Köprübaşı 5 places Demirköprü Dam, Historic Bridge and Köprübaşı Mosque
• Kula 6 places Kula Geopark, Yanık Ülke (Katakekaumene) and Divlit Tepe
• Salihli 6 places Sardes Ancient City, Bin Tepeler and Daldis Ancient City
• Sarıgöl 4 places Sarıgöl Ulu Mosque, Vineyards and Afşar Dam
• Saruhanlı 5 places Gediz Plain, Saruhanlı Grand Mosque and View of the Gediz Plain
• Selendi 5 places Kınık Neighbourhood picnic area, Gavur Evleri rock tombs and Selendi Mosque
• Soma 3 places Soma Castle, Hıdırlık Hill and Emir Hacı Hıdır Bey Mosque
• Turgutlu 4 places Urganlı Hot Springs, Karaca Ali Canyon and Ovacık Plateau
• Yunusemre 6 places Yoğurtçu Castle, Weeping Rock and Mount Spil National Park