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Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ), Istanbul
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Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ), Istanbul

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) tips and photos posted by real travelers and Istanbul locals.
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Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): Sultanahmet Camii
  • Tip Rating:
    • violeta13
  • Updated By violeta13 on October 29, 2004
  • Istanbul Page by violeta13
    • The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
    The Blue Mosque
    by violeta13
    The Blue Mosque was founded by Sultan Ahmet I. He ordered Architect Mehmed Aga to begin construction in 1609 and the whole complex was completed in 1616. The location of the mosque is just opposite of the splendid Church of Hagia Sophia as it is trying to compete with it. That is actually true because Architect Mehmed wanted to construct a bigger dome then Hagia Sophia's but he could not succeed. Instead, he made the mosque splendid by the perfect proportion of domes and semidomes as well as the splendid minarets.
    When visiting the Blue Mosque, one should remember the prayer times, five times a day. First one in the very early in morning, second at noon time, third in afternon, fourth in evening and last fifth before going to bed. The mosque is closed at prayer times for 1-1.5 hours.

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  • Address: Sultanahmet
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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): Not as blue as expected
  • Tip Rating:
    • vtveen
  • Updated By vtveen on January 12, 2005
  • Istanbul Page by vtveen
    • Blue Mosque - Istanbul
    Blue Mosque
    by vtveen
    We were a little bit disappointed about the Blue Mosque. After reading a lot about the blue colours inside the mosque, we couldn’t hardly find anything blue. Although it is an impressive building as well outside with its six minarets as inside.

    Besides it is by far the most ‘popular’ mosque by tourists, so you are not on your own, when visiting this mosque. And where tourists are, there are also street sellers and other ‘just a little bit too friendly’ men, trying to ‘help’ you.

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): Blue Mosque
  • Tip Rating:
    • ptitetoile
  • Updated By ptitetoile on September 15, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by ptitetoile
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by ptitetoile
    Istanbul's imperial Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I (Sultan Ahmet Camii) is called the Blue Mosque because of its interior tiles, mostly on the upper level and difficult to see unless you're right up there with them. But there is a really nice blue atmosphere... but I guess you could feel it much more peacefully without all the tourists that there are inside and I guess it is only possible if you are moslim and come at the pray time.
    It has 6 minarets (an exception because only the mosque in La Mekka can have 6 minarets) and there are a lot of stories about the origins of this number...But a fact is that the sultan wanted his mosque to be bigger than the Aya Sofya just in front of it

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): The blue mosque
  • Tip Rating:
    • Bigjones
  • Updated By Bigjones on October 13, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by Bigjones
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by Bigjones
    You enter the Mosque through the west side, from the Hippodrome where you can visit the Spiral Column and the Obelisk of Theodosius. The interior is really breathtaking with the big chandelliers and the blue Iznik tiles probably at the origin of its name because actually, the Blue Mosque is grey from the outside.
    The Blue Mosque was founded by Sultan Ahmet I. He ordered Architect Mehmed Aga to begin construction in 1609 and the whole complex was completed in 1616. He wanted it to compete with the opposite church Hagya Sofia. It's the only mosque with 6 minarets with Mecca's Mosque (until this date, only Mecca's Mosque was considered holy enough to have six minarets). I heard many differents stories about the existence of these 6 minarets on the Blue Mosque. Some say that the Sultan wanted a minaret made of gold ("altin" in Turkish). The architect would have understood "alti" (six) instead of "altin" ...

    Inside any mosque, the most important element is the "mihrab", a niche set into the center of the wall opposite the main entrance.The purpose of the "mihrab" is to indicate the "kible", the direction of the holy city Mecca, toward which muslims face when they perform their prayers
    To the right of the "mihrab" we see the "mimber", or "pulpit", where the imam stands when he is delivering his sermon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy days. Before entering a mosque, remember to take your shoes off and cover your legs and shoulders.

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): The Blue Mosque
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mariajoy
  • By Mariajoy on February 22, 2006
  • Istanbul Page by Mariajoy
    • Blue Mosque - Istanbul
    Blue Mosque
    by Mariajoy
    We visited the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmed) while visiting friends in Istanbul in the early 90's. I was overwhelmed by the magnificent interior of this fabulous building and the floor which is carpeted with hundreds and hundreds of hugeTurkish rugs!! I remember we had to leave our shoes outside before entering.

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  • Address: Kadakoy, Istanbul
  • Directions: Central, near the ferries.
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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): Ivanics with a Blue Girl
  • Tip Rating:
    • manuelEB
  • Updated By manuelEB on August 18, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by manuelEB
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by manuelEB
    Istanbul is a wonderful city, and the pictures only tell half of the story. I hope you are enjoying browsing through these Istanbul pages as much as I enjoyed my trip and as much as I am enjoying going through my memories to write the accompanying tips. Please, come back soon, you will find new information in your next visit.

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): DBS: Hey Sultan, pay respect.
  • Tip Rating:
    • manuelEB
  • Updated By manuelEB on July 29, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by manuelEB
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by manuelEB
    You will see this chain hanging from the entrance to Blue Mosque if you come from the Hippodrome (If you come from a hippodrome chances are that you will be horse, and, if you are able to read this and you are a horse I will be glad to become your artistic agent. Believe me we can make good money).
    The chain on the gate used by the Sultan, and other big fishes, who came into the venues by horse, compelled them to bow, to lower their heads in front of the Almighty.
    Did you know the door of Tea houses in Japan are low and small for a similar reason? To obly one to show humilty when bowing... By the way, did finally Boeing move from Seatlle?

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): But isn't redish?
  • Tip Rating:
    • manuelEB
  • Updated By manuelEB on August 3, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by manuelEB
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by manuelEB
    After this question, all tourist - because "serious travellers" already know before getting there- receive headseats and listen to the famous song:
    "Blue, Blue
    the tile is Blue..."

    And that's it. The exquisite tiling of main and secondary domes in predominantly blue...

    So the question is:
    Was I under a predominaly red space? The answer is:
    There is not famous song with red, so blue is easier...

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): Sultanahmet
  • Tip Rating:
    • manuelEB
  • Updated By manuelEB on August 18, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by manuelEB
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by manuelEB
    Istanbul is a wonderful city, and the pictures only tell half of the story. I hope you are enjoying browsing through these Istanbul pages as much as I enjoyed my trip and as much as I am enjoying going through my memories to write the accompanying tips. Please, come back soon, you will find new information in your next visit.

    Leave a Comment

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    Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ): Sultanahmet2
  • Tip Rating:
    • manuelEB
  • Updated By manuelEB on August 18, 2003
  • Istanbul Page by manuelEB
    • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ) - Istanbul
    by manuelEB
    Istanbul is a wonderful city, and the pictures only tell half of the story. I hope you are enjoying browsing through these Istanbul pages as much as I enjoyed my trip and as much as I am enjoying going through my memories to write the accompanying tips. Please, come back soon, you will find new information in your next visit.

    Leave a Comment

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