The Blue Mosque – Pride of Istanbul, Turkey – Historical Facts

Sultan Ahmed Mosque  is an ancient mosque built during the rule of Ahmed I. He decided to build this Mosque to restore the power of the Ottomans in Istanbul. Sultan Ahmed Mosque (The blue Mosque) construction work starts in 1609 and finished in 1616. This mosque is very close to Hagia Sophia. The structure of this mosque was designed by Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa and it was a mixture of Islamic and classic Ottoman architecture. Sultan Ahmed Mosque contains the tomb of Ahmed I.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque contains five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. It was also called a blue Mosque by visitors because the interior walls of the mosque are covered with blue tiles. During the nighttime, this mosque looks fully blue. The upper level of the mosque is adorned with 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles from İznik city in more than fifty different tulip designs. The lower area of the mosque has 260 stained glass windows. Tiles at the lower level of the mosque look traditional and at gallery level, the tiles with representative flowers, fruits, and cypresses are seen. Interiors in the upper level were painted in blue color. You can also watch ostrich eggs on the chandeliers, which will avoid spider entry into the mosque.

The most important element, Mihrab made of carved marble is found in the interior of the mosque. The royal kiosk consists of a platform, a loggia and two small relax rooms is located in the southeast corner. Several restoration works were undergone in the mosque . Now, this mosque welcomes tourists from all over the world. Women have to wear proper dresses and they should have to cover their head with a scarf. 

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

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