Sultan Ahmet Mosque, A Majestic Fusion of Byzantine and Islamic Art

Sultanahmet, Istanbul 222, Turkey

Its magnificent exterior is a symbol of the whole city

4.5

Introduction

The Blue Mosque is a landmark building in Istanbul, built during the Ottoman Empire and using a great deal of stone and marble. It is considered the last exemplar of Ottoman classical architecture. The interior walls of the mosque are covered with blue glazed tiles, and its exterior contrasts with the nearby Hagia Sophia mosque and arena. Built between 1609 and 1616, it was the first imperial mosque to last over forty years. It was personally supervised by Sultan Ahmed I and used new architectural techniques and decorative methods, as well as drawing inspiration from nearby Hagia Sophia's Byzantine features. The mosque's courtyard uses natural light, and the lower windows use a mosaic technique, while the central dome is supported by four enormous pillars. Interior decor includes Arabic calligraphy and verses from the Quran, as well as carpets donated by followers. The mosque's design combines the best aspects of Ottoman and Byzantine Church architecture over two centuries, and is one of the world's most impressive historical landmarks.

Address

Sultanahmet, Istanbul 222, Turkey

Opening hours

From morning until evening (approximately between 8:00 and 18:00), there will be three time slots available (as the five daily prayer times for Muslims will close to the public). The specific times can be found on the notice board at the entrance. Additionally, on Fridays, the site usually only opens to visitors after 13:00.

Transportation

You can take the T1 and get off at Sultanahmet station.

Phone +90-212-5181319

Website http://www.bluemosque.co