Payas Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Complex

Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Complex is situated on the route of the Istanbul–Aleppo–Sam–Hejaz road, both on the pilgrimage and silk road. It was built by Sokollu Mehmet Pasha in the 16th century by the architect Mimar Sinan. The complex is one of the architect's masterpieces because it was constructed almost simultaneously with the Selimiye Mosque. It covers a 13.000 square meter area and consists of the following: a bazaar (48 shops), a mosque, an inn, Turkish bath, a tabhane (kind of resting house), and an imaret (kind of soup kitchen).