The Blue Mosque, officially known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is one of the world’s most famous religious sites and a “must-see” if you’re travelling through Istanbul. It is famed for its six minarets, five main domes, and phenomenal iznik-tiled interior, and it dominates the skyline of the famous Old City.

The Blue Mosque

Sultan Ahmed Mosque has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. It was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I and completed in 1616, just a year before his death. It was built to reflect the strength and power of the Ottoman Empire and was seen as far more than simply a place for prayer and reflection.

Sultan Ahmed I

Ahmed I was a Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. During his reign between 1603 and 1617, Ahmed I became known for constructing the Blue Mosque and as the first Sultan to breach the Ottoman tradition of royal fratricide, where the Ottoman ruler executed their brother upon accession to the throne. Ahmed paid for the mosque from funds from the public treasury rather than from the rewards of conquests, and he chose its location carefully – right on top of a former Byzantine Palace commanding a prime position in Constantinople.

Location

Sultan Ahmed Mosque is found in Istanbul’s historic district now known as Sultanahmet. It’s located right in front of the hippodrome and the basilica Hagia Sophia, formally the main mosque in Constantinople. Much of the site covers the vaults of the old Grand Palace, or Sacred Palace, once the imperial residence of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine emperors until 1081.

The Architecture

Sedefkar Mehmed Aga, the last student of the master architect Mimar Sinan, was set the task to design the Blue Mosque and make it one of the most majestic Islamic buildings in the world. His design was a culmination of two centuries of Islamic architecture, consisting of six minarets, five main domes and eight secondary domes. The interior levels of the mosque are adorned with more than 20,000 hand-crafted tiles in over 60 different tulip and flower patterns, and 200 stained glass windows light the interior. There’s a forecourt with a large fountain and ablution area, and iron chains hang down on the entrance to the western side of the building that ensured the Sultan bowed his head in respect of Allah when entering on horseback.

Six Minarets

Five mosques in Türkiye feature six minarets, and Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul is by far the most impressive. There is a fluted pencil minaret at each of the four corners, each with three balconies and two further minarets at the end of the forecourt. Some say the architect may have misheard the wishes of the Sultan and built the sixth minaret by mistake. It has been said that the Sultan requested “altın minareler“, meaning gold minarets, rather than “alti“, meaning six. Only the Ka’aba Mosque in Mecca had six minarets at that time, so when Sultan Ahmed built his Blue Mosque, a seventh minaret was added to Ka’aba in response.

The Interior

One of the main highlights of the Blue Mosque is its interior and its beautiful handmade iznik tiles. The tulip tiles on the lower level are traditional in design, with more colourful and decorative tiles depicting flowers, cypresses and fruit found on the gallery level. The interior of the mosque is spacious, with lots of room for prayer. Verses of the Quran are used as decoration, and 200 stained glass windows and chandeliers allow light to flood each section.

The mihrab is one of the most important aspects of the mosque and is made from sculpted marble with an inscriptive panel above it. To its right lies the pulpit, or minber, that has been cleverly designed so the Imam can be seen and heard even when the mosque is crowded during the Friday prayers. The royal kiosk with its platform, loggia and two retiring rooms grant access to the royal loge in the upper gallery of the building. Grand Vizier used these rooms as their headquarters during the suppression of the Janissary Corps in 1826.

Visit The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions and a private tour of Istanbul, including a visit to Sultan Ahmed Mosque, can easily be arranged. The mosque accepts non-Muslim visitors throughout the day except during prayer times. Entrance is free, but shoes should be removed on entry, and women should wear a headscarf. CONTACT US for more details or to add a visit to your itinerary.