Behold the Sultan Ahmet Cami. It is also known as the Blue Mosque. This breathtaking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. Sultan Ahmet Cami stands as a testament to time. Its story is etched in every corner.
The construction of the Sultan Ahmet Cami began in 1609. It concluded in 1616. Sultan Ahmed I commissioned Mehmet Ağa to build it. He designed it as an imperial show of strength. It was to complement the imposing Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia faces it across Sultanahmet Square.
Unlike the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan Ahmet Cami is supported by four elephant foot pillars. The central dome is 23.5 meters in diameter and 43 meters high. It is flanked by four semi-domes. This makes it nearly square in shape.
Why is it dubbed the Blue Mosque? Over 20000 handmade ceramic Iznik tiles decorate the interior. They feature tulips, roses, carnations and lilies. 260 windows light them well. The Blue Mosque is a symphony of light and color.
One of the most distinctive elements is that it has six minarets. Most city mosques have two or four. Legend says this is because of a misunderstanding. The Sultan decreed there should be altın minaret gold minarets. The architect heard altı minaret six minarets. It was an easy mistake.
This caused controversy. The only other mosque with six minarets at that time was the Prophet’s mosque in Mecca. The Sultan overcame this problem by ordering a seventh minaret to be added in Mecca. The Blue Mosque became the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets.
Though it is one of Istanbul’s most popular sights, it is still a working mosque. It is closed to tourists during prayer time. The mosques are open from 9 am until one hour before dusk each day. This excludes 90 minutes each prayer time. It also excludes two hours during Friday noon prayers. Dress respectfully when visiting. Shawls and outer garments are given at the door if needed.
The easiest way to get there is by tram to Sultanahmet. From there it is a two-minute walk. Be advised that in busy times, there is a queue to get in. From Blue Mosque to Hagia Sophia it’s only two minutes walking distance.
Set in the historic old city, the Istanbul Blue Mosque is close to other sights. These include the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Archeology Museum. Visit the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar too. Pay a visit to the tomb of Sultan Ahmed I. It is located just outside the precinct wall northwest of the mosque. Like the mosque, it is free to visit. It is ornately decorated with more 17th century Iznik tiles.
Commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I the mosque began construction in 1609. The construction took just seven years wrapping everything up in 1616. Looking at the exterior you can see hints of blue but not enough to warrant it being known as the Blue Mosque. The name comes from the interior design. Over 20000 blue Iznik tiles line the interior.
The architect Mimar Sedefkar Mehmet Aga chose to include six minarets. He wanted to show the majesty and power of the Sultan. The Sultan Ahmet Cami stands as a symbol. It shows Istanbul’s rich history and architectural prowess.
Inside, the central dome rests on pendentives. Its weight is supported on four fluted columns. To extend the prayer space, half-domes cascade outwards. Four minarets stand at the corners of the prayer hall. The other two flank the courtyard. Each minaret has balconies.
The prayer hall features the sultan’s platform. An arcaded gallery runs along the interior walls. A carved marble niche guides the faithful to Mecca. To its right is a tall marble pulpit.
Sultan Ahmet Mosque is particularly remarkable. It was built during a time of relative decline. Grand mosques were constructed as markers of prosperity and political strength. Ahmet I is now seen as a weak sultan. Yet, his legacy remains cemented in the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Mosque.