It was built in 1559 by Mimar Sinan on the orders of Cafer Agha,[2] during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520–1566).

The medrese was transformed by the Turkish Cultural Service Foundation in 1989 into a tourist centre with 15 classrooms/exhibition rooms, a big salon and a garden where traditional Turkish handicrafts such as calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry and so forth are taught, made and sold.

[3] There is an annual exhibition at the end of each year where students of various classes (ceramics, mosaics, etc.)

The medrese is located close to the Hagia Sophia—stairs lead down to it from the small street—and to Topkapi Palace.

The structure is entered through the main gate which leads into the inner courtyard, around which the former learning rooms are located.