Search for Suleiman's heart reveals a whole town

Researchers in Hungary looking for the tomb of Suleiman the Magnificent have uncovered instead traces of a whole Ottoman era town, built as a place of pilgrimage for visitors to the tomb where Suleiman's heart and intestines were buried.

Suleiman, the most successful Ottoman ruler, died aged 72 during the siege of Szigetvar in 1566.

His body was carried back to Constantinople for burial - but his heart was buried, researchers now believe, just to the east of Szigetvar close to the village of Turbek.

According to the new research, between 1573 and 1577 a fortified "holy town" was built around the tomb, comprising two mahalla or districts, home initially to around 50 households - probably the families of the soldiers guarding it....