Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet ), Istanbul

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Known as the Blue Mosque for the tens of thousands of blue Iznik tiles covering its interior, Sultanahmet Camii was built in 1609 on the orders of Sultan Ahmet I. For the job, he appointed the imperial architect Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, a student of the famous architect Sinan, and chose the site of the ancient Byzantine palaces, directly across from the Hagia Sophia. Stones from the Byzantine palaces and hippodrome were used in the construction, while Iznik tiles and Venetian stained glass decorated the interior. The new mosque was to match and exceed the splendour of the Hagia Sophia and other imperial mosques in Constantinople, a feat that was certainly accomplished. This large scale project came at the beginning of the slow decline of the Ottoman Empire, and was in part planned to deflect the impact from Sultan Ahmet's losses in recent wars. Unlike previous imperial mosques funded by gains in wars, the Blue Mosque was financed by the Empire's treasury. This extravagance, coupled with the fact that it was the first mosque outside Mecca to have six minarets, angered the religious establishments of Constantinople, but to appease them, the Sultan constructed a seventh minaret at the Great Mosque of Mecca.

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Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) was built with the order of Ottoman Sultan Ahmet. Sedefhar Mehmet Aða, a pupil and senior assistant of Mimar Sinan was in charge of the construction which was completed in 1616. The blue mosque name comes from the interior lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at Iznik in more than fifty different tulip designs. This is one of the two mosques in Turkey with 6 minarets. Pope Benedict XVI visited the Sultanahmet Mosque on 30 November 2006 during his visit to Turkey. It marks only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship. During his tour, the pontiff turned towards Mecca in a gesture of Muslim prayer and conducted "Silent Prayer". Having removed his shoes, the Pope paused for a full two minutes, eyes closed in prayer, standing side-by-side with Mustafa Cagrici, the Mufti of Istanbul and Emrullah Hatipoglu, the Imam of the Blue Mosque. Try to avoid visiting the mosque during Friday noon prayers and Teravih prayers (evening prayers during Ramadan) which are more crowded than any other day and time.

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The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at Iznik, in more than fifty different tulip designs. The tiles at lower levels are traditional in design, while at gallery level their design becomes flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit and cypresses. The price to be paid for each tile was fixed by the sultan's decree, while tile prices in general increased over time. As a result, the quality of the tiles used in the building decreased gradually. Their colours have faded and changed (red turning into brown and green into blue, mottled whites) and the glazes have dulled. The tiles on the back balcony wall are recycled tiles from the harem in the Topkapi Palace, when it was damaged by fire in 1574.

The most important element in the interior of the mosque is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it. To the right is the richly decorated minber, or pulpit, where the Imam stands when he is delivering his sermon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy days.

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One of the Blue Mosque's most redeeming features are its number of minarets - six instead of the more conventional four. It is one of only two mosques in Turkey that has six minarets, the other one is the Sabanci Mosque in Adana. When the number of minarets was revealed, the Sultan was criticized for being presumptuous, since this was, at the time, the same number as at the mosque of the Ka'aba in Mecca. He overcame this problem by ordering a seventh minaret to be built at the Mecca mosque.

Four of the minarets stand at the corners of the mosque, each fluted and pencil-shaped with three balconies (serefe) and stalactite corbels, while the other two stand at the end of the forecourt and have only two balconies.

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Officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque but more popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior, this mosque is a major tourist attraction in Istanbul. Unlike the Hagia Sophia which was converted into a museum by Ataturk, the building is still used as a mosque today and so is used for prayer. Be aware of this as you will not be able to enter during this time.

The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah (school) and a hospice. After the Peace of Zsitvatorok and the unfavourable result of the wars with Persia, Sultan Ahmed I decided to build a large mosque in Istanbul to placate Allah. It was built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, facing the Hagia Sophia (at that time the most venerated mosque in Istanbul) and the hippodrome, a site of great symbolic significance. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.

The Blue Mosque is one of only two mosques in Turkey that has six minarets, the other one is the Sabanci Mosque in Adana. When the number of minarets was revealed, the Sultan was criticised for being presumptuous, since this was, at the time, the same number as at the mosque of the Ka'aba in Mecca. He overcame this problem by ordering a seventh minaret to be built at the Mecca mosque. The interior is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at Iznik in more than fifty different tulip designs.

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Modest relative to the grandeur of the Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque, this small domed mausoleum contains the tomb of Sultan Ahmet I himself. As was typical, the great Sultan chose to be buried close to his namesake mosque and placed his mausoleum just north of the mosque, within its outer grounds. Both structures were built together in the early 17th century, and as with the mosque, the mausoleum was adorned with beautiful blue Iznik tiles and Ottoman decorative motifs. Members of the Sultan's family were also buried within. Note that shoes have to be taken off before entering the mausoleum and women may have to cover their hair (?).

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Sultan Ahmed I began the foundation of this great mosque, using his ceremonial dagger, in 1609 (that dagger can now be viewed at nearby Topkapi Palace). The mosque was completed about ten years later; unfortunately, the young Sultan didn't live to see it.

This is Istanbul's most distinctive mosque. Its most unusual feature is its six minarets. No other mosque in Turkey has that many. It has no paintings or sculpture, but some stunningly beautiful calligraphy.

If you go, remember that this is an active mosque, not a museum. Please dress conservatively, remove your shoes upon entering, and keep your voice low.

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Takes it's name after Sultan Mehmet. The area is also named after him: Sultanahmet.

The unique thing about it's design is that it has six minarets, constructed out of a misunderstanding on the architect's part! No other building was to eclipse the mosque in Saudi Arabia (with 6 minarets!), so how could this be rectified?? Well, the design is such that most of the time, you will not see all 6 minarets at the same time!! Only by standing in particular angles would you see all six! This way everyone was happy :)

The interior is massive, with the huge dome supported an elephantine columns. There is an overwhelming sea of blue inside, hence the name. The decorative tiles are exquisite, with hints of pink as well (even the occasional green), so it's certainly not monochrome.

The interior is truly beautiful, and delicately decorated.

I thought this mosque is MASSIVE, only to be told that Sulemaniye (on the highest hill in Istanbul) is even larger! Imagine that!!