Last updated on January 2, 2024.

The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) is one of the most magnificent buildings in Turkey and a popular tourist attraction in Istanbul. It’s located in Sultanahmet, the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage listed old city, directly across from its rival, Hagia Sophia.

Sultan Ahmet Camii in Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque
Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque

 

History

The mosque was built on top of the old Byzantine emperor’s palace between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. Constructed during a period of decline and uncertainty, the mosque was meant to reassure Ottoman citizens of the power of the empire. It was funded by the Ottoman treasury and not by the spoils of war as previous imperial mosques had been, making the decision to build it an unpopular one.

Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque

The architect was Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, a student of the great Mimar Sinan, and his goal was to surpass the grandeur of Hagia Sophia. He designed the mosque with five main domes and eight smaller ones. It was the first mosque built with six minarets, which angered many people because the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca only had four at the time (Murad IV added three minarets in Mecca in 1629). In addition to the mosque, there was a madrasa and a hospice. The Tomb of Ahmed I is also on the premises.

Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque
Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque
Minaret of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Minaret

 

Courtyard

The courtyard of the mosque has a fountain in the center. The main entrance to the prayer hall is on the courtyard, but tourists must enter from another entrance on the south side.

Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Monumental entrance to the courtyard
Courtyard of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Courtyard

 

Prayer Hall

As soon as you enter the prayer hall, you’ll notice the splendor and stunning artwork from floor to ceiling. The interior of the mosque doesn’t look nearly as big as you’d expect from the outside, but it’s still a spectacular sight.

Prayer hall of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Prayer hall
Prayer hall of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Prayer hall

The Blue Mosque is adorned with over 20,000 handmade ceramic Iznik tiles. The blue tiles, which depict tulips, give the mosque its nickname. There are also over 200 beautiful stained glass windows. The glass was a gift from the Republic of Venice.

Stained glass window of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Stained glass window

It’s also not hard to notice the giant pillars that support the structure. They’re connected to the domes, which are also richly decorated.

Prayer hall of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Prayer hall
Domes of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Domes
Dome of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Dome

The most important parts of the mosque are the mihrab and minbar. The mihrab is carved out of marble. The minbar is also carved out of marble and decorated with gold.

Mihrab and minbar of the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
Mihrab and minbar

 

Visiting the Mosque

The Blue Mosque is open daily, but visitors can only enter outside of prayer times. Women must cover their heads. All visitors must dress modestly (women should cover their shoulders and legs, no shorts for men) and remove their shoes. Scarves are provided for women at the entrance as well as plastic bags for carrying shoes. There is no admission to enter.

You can take your time visiting the interior, although 15 minutes is usually more than enough. Please notice the wooden barrier separating the tourists from the rest of the prayer hall. Tourists are not permitted to pass the barrier. After you finish, exit through the doors to the north, put your shoes back on, and return any scarves and plastic shoe bags.

Click here for a few virtual tours of the mosque.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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