The Blue Mosque is considered to be his masterpiece work. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque isnt the only mosque in Turkey that has 6 minarets as there are 5 others, including the Sabanc Mosque in Adana, the Mudat Mosque in Mersin, and the amlca Mosque in skdar, Istanbul. Its an enormous structure with a length of 73 meters (240 feet) and a width of 65 meters (213 feet). The mosaic tiles show a wide range of chromatic shades mainly in cobalt blue, gray, light green decorated with floral and vegetal patterns. Let your self experience a great city where the Continents meet. Beautiful photographs roomie. There are 3 entrances to the mosque, and after entering inside one gets shocked by the floral and geometrical interior decoration and beauty of over 21 thousand Iznik (Nicea) tiles, about 260 windows with stained glass, and calligraphy art of Koranic verses. Although technically called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, most people just refer to it as the Blue Mosque because of the colour of its interior tiles. The City of Love: Is this Turkeys best ruins site? Furthermore, a journey into the interior of the Blue Mosque reveals the reason behind its alternate name the swathes of blue tiles which adorn its walls. Hello- Beautiful photos!! This Blue Mosque ( Sultan Ahmet Mosque) is located in Sultanahmet Square, which is known by its name in Istanbul. The Blue Mosque today The Blue Mosque remains an extremely busy place of worship and admission is controlled in order to allow worshippers their chance to visit - as a result it's closed during the five daily prayer times. I have to correct you on some historical facts. Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) The Blue Mosque is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site named the Historic Areas of Istanbul. Apart from the mosque and the nearby Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, several other mosques in the Fatih district and the old Walls of Constantinople are part of it too. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Blue Mosque was the ambitious creation of a young sultan and would become one of Istanbuls most iconic sites. Orthodox Catholic You lose a lot of credibility there, no such thing, The first name of the Church was Megale Ekklesia which means the Grand Church. Eventually one world became another and the past became a story rather than a daily reality. One of these grand structures is the Blue Mosque in Tabriz, a masterpiece from centuries ago which is covered beautifully with blue tiles. About Blue Mosque. Its silhouette from the far has become the symbol of Istanbul in millions of postcards. As I said, it is technically a museum now, but you can feel the life within the walls. To save time when you visit Hagia Sophia you can get this skip-the-line ticket or use the Istanbul Tourist Pass, which includes a guided tour. It's still an active mosque today and still holds this status, even though the Hagia Sophia has been reclassified as a mosque recently in 2020. There is still a LOT of restoration work being done on the blue mosque and it's almost impossible to take good photos of the outside of the building at this time. Its decorated with about 20,000 handmade tile ceramics that feature over 60 tulip patterns. Despite hosting millions of visitors in a year, the Blue Mosque is still used as a worship house. Its still an active mosque today and still holds this status, even though the Hagia Sophia has been reclassified as a mosque recently in 2020. Ahmet's time between (1609-1616) years. For other visitors, the visiting hours of Blue Mosque are between 09:00 in the morning and 19:00 in the evening. You can buy the "Museum Pass" for foreigners which is valid for 3 and 5 days in various museums of Istanbul. I was doing a combination English grammar/Geography lesson yesterday and used your photos- MUCH better than mine! About 70.000-75.000 Muslims can practice their worship at the same time in Blue Mosque. Some parts of this decoration are still visible on the ceiling. Blue Mosque was once one of the masterpieces of art and architecture in post-Islamic era. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. In this article, well take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the Blue Mosque, one of the most famous landmarks in Istanbul. Travel the 10 best historic sites in Turkey with this guide featuring unmissable sites such as the beautiful Hagia Sophia to the Iron Age fortress of Van Castle. Phone: +90 212 4587107, Open daily except during prayer times. This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Two main types of mosques can be distinguished: the masjid jmi, or "collective mosque," a large state-controlled mosque that is the centre of community worship and the site of Friday . Times for these prayer sessions change throughout the year, based on the sunrise and sunset times. I hope everyone who reads this comment goes and checks out your site!! As he noted at the time, Turkey will be a bridge of friendship and collaboration between East and West. The Sultan Ahmed, the Blue Mosque, was built between 1609 and 1616 A.D. during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I. the design and envision was . If possible, a small donation is accepted at the exit of the mosque, which is used for repair and maintenance works. Today, the mosque is still used for Muslim prayers and is also an important tourist attraction in the city. Blue Mosque in Istanbul is a historical mosque dating back to 1600s. A beautifully written and structured post Mr Turtle! Its located just southwest of the most famous structure in Istanbul, 2. But at least in this case the result was a couple of beautiful buildings! Thanks Natasha. The walls used to be decorated with fine azure tiles and intricate gold work resembling the starry nights. It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I from 1609-1616 facing Hagia Sophia, in order to compete with it. Today, the mosque is still used for Muslim prayers and is also an important tourist attraction in the city. The all-encompassing blue of the interiors is what gives the mosque its famous name. Its architect was Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, a poet and inlayer as well, and a student of the greatest architect Sinan. Blue Mosque with its 6 minarets possesses one of the most beautiful skyline views of Istanbul, especially when looking at it from the ferries in the sunrise and sunset. Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet) Istanbul. Is that a good reason to build it? It still continues its function. While the exterior of the dome is impressive enough, the interior is breathtaking. The lights are all electric, there are no candles in there (probably a fire hazard). The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, was completed in 1617 just prior to the untimely death of its then 27-year-old eponymous patron, Sultan Ahmet I. Wonderful Istanbul, what a stormy past this city has seen and experienced. Such an important place in history! Booking, reviews and advices on hotels, resorts, flights, vacation rentals, travel packages, and lots more. Hi Michael, Lovely Photos! Blue Mosque is one of the most popular historical places in Istanbul. It is located on the site of the Great Palace of Byzantium, on the southeastern side of the Hippodrome. Today, they are one of the Blue Mosque's most famous symbols, with local legend recounting that the doves are pure white because of the mosque's holiness. Thats one of the reasons people love these buildings so much, I think. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is still used as a place of worship today, just as it has been for the last 400 years. In the center of this courtyard there is a fine fountain for ablutions which is dry today. The construction of the Blue Mosque was a controversial decision of Sultan Ahmed I. Thats mainly because he didnt have money from successful wars, the main funding method of most other major structures built in the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Mehmed invaded the city in 1453 and, upon capturing the building, declared immediately that it should be turned into a mosque. Blue Mosque has all the classical period decoration elements of the Ottoman Empire. It is called by Europeans as Blue because of its interior blue tiles which was used more than 20 . I am planning a journey through Turkey myself. Women need to wear a headscarf to enter youll be loaned one if you dont have your own. Stupid woman! The 34-meter high central dome is surrounded by smaller domes and semi-domes to distribute the heavy weight of the main dome, and all of them are supported by 4 huge pillars (called "elephant legs"). Your photos are so much better than mine. Notably, it's true even today since Arax makes up the actual borders between Southern Armenia and . On one side of Sultanahmet Park, Hagia Sophia dominates the skyline with its red walls and minarets. It was constructed in the 18th century, when the. As a step on the way of a secular country, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum by the order of Atatrk and reopened in 1935. 8. One note, though- the building that exists now was finished in 537. This mosque used to be part of a larger architectural complex called Mozafarieh, consisting of a number of other buildings like school, library and Sufi convent. Due to its beautiful blue, green and white tiling's it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by Europeans. Your site should be required reading for anyone whos thinking of visiting the country. He heavily involved himself in the construction of the Blue Mosque, to the extent that he actually executed the first architect on the job and is even said to have participated in the build itself. An outer precinct, enclosed by a stonewall with windows, wraps around the mosque and court on all sides except for qibla. It was constructed between 1609 and 1616. Hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and subscriber rewards. From the inside and the outside, it looks like a mosque and its hard to imagine the cathedral form. May 17, 2022, 1:14 PM. Thanks, mate. 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