Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ), Istanbul

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The Blue Mosque stands across parks to the south as a counterpoint to the Aya Sofya. Built in 1616 for Sultan Ahmed I, who died but one year later at the young age of 27 – his tomb/türbe is close by. The Blue Mosque is one of the most magnificent buildings in the Islamic world. The six minarets were controversial at the time of construction since that equaled the number surrounding the El Haram Mosque which encloses the Ka’aba in Mecca. The architect of the Blue Mosque, Mehmet Aða, was dispatched to Arabia subsequently so he could add a seventh minaret to El Haram.

Four massive columns support a dome that is almost as big as that of Aya Sofya – 22m/70 feet diameter and 43 m/142 feet high. More than 20,000 turquoise Iznik tiles glow inside the mosque from light filtering through some 260 windows. As are the other former Imperial mosques – with the exception of Ay Sofya – the Blue Mosque is a functioning worship center so tourists can only enter when services are not ongoing.

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Guess thats one of the most touristical things in Istanbul, great architecture and really recommended to see. no costs, you have to turn off shoes (plastic available to put inside), scarf for the ladies and no naked skin. its closed during prayers time, time table outside, small donation is welcome

It was just an average mosque, maybe because of my middle eastern origin, but for me, if it weren't for aya Sofia close to it, I would have been very disappointed for making the effort to go there. I would say it is really good that it's for free.

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This is a fully functioning mosque and as such you must dress appropriately - no shorts etc... Non worshippers must use the entrance at the south door (not the main door).

The Blue Mosque was built to rival the beauty of Haghia Sofia... does it??? hm... they are both so beautiful - who can say!
This mosque has 6 minarets (only a sultan was allowed to add more than one minaret - Sultan Ahmet I commissioned this one). There are 260 windows and apparently the bil interior tiles are in the tens of thousands.

The mosque closes during prayer times.

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A second look at Blue mosque was a great opportunity to observe some missed aspects.

First of all, that this mosque, built in the 17Th century,was strongly inspired in Hagia Sophia, adding Byzantine elements to Ottoman style.

The second one is that "Blue mosque" is a strange name for a Portuguese - we are used to blue interiors by the use of tiles, and the result of the wonderful tiles inside the mosque is not so blue.

The third and last one is that the beautiful mosque continues beautiful, and visited out of peak season (though always with many people), gives another sensation of calm and peace.

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Sultan Ahmed Mosque is another impressive structure that makes a perfect match with Hagia Sophia church (they face each other). It was first built to show the supremacy of Islam over Christianity but we did both on the same day and enjoyed it! I cant tell which one is better (if that matters) but the great difference of course is that Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built 1000 years after Hagia Sophia in 1616 ;)

It was the early 17th century when Mehmet Aga started to built the impressive mosque for Sultan Ahmet I. It took 7 years (1609-1616) and the style is a mix of byzantine and Islamic features but the most impressive that time was that it had 6 minarets while usually the mosques have 4. The problem was that Ka’aba in Mecca had also 6 minarets so the Sultan built an extra minaret at Ka’aba to stop criticism. Some people claim that that the architect heard wrong because the words gold (altin) and six (alti) sound similar in Turkish.

It’s also called the Blue Mosque because the interior houses about 20,000 blue tiles from Iznik.
Except Friday (when they have the big muslim prayer) the non muslim visitors can tour inside. Don’t forget that the mosque is still in active use so respect the rules and take your shoes off at the door, no shorts or skirts of course, the women have to cover their heads also.

There’s no entrance fee but donations are welcomed

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Sultan Ahmed Mosque (in Turkish, the Sultanahmet Camii) was constructed between 1609 and 1616, by Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Ahmed I. Due to the blue tiles inside the building, it is often called the Blue Mosque. The capacity of this huge structure is 10,000 worshippers.

The architecture is considered to be a blend of Byzantine and traditional Islamic styles. Perhaps the most unique feature outside the mosque is its six minarets rather than the traditional four. When constructed, this mosque had the same number of minarets as the Ka'aba in Mecca; to overcome criticism the Sultan soon built a seventh minaret at the Ka'aba.

The Blue Mosque is located alongside the hippodrome on the site of the former Great Palace of Byzantium.