B L U E M O S Q U E T O U R
Blue Mosque was built between 1609-1616, it was used to be part of a large complex, including a covered bazaar, Turkish baths, public kitchens, a hospital, schools, a caravanserai, and the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmet and members of his family. Most of these buildings have not survived to our time. This is the only royal mosque in the Ottoman empire with six minarets which decorate Istanbul sky line with a magnificent display.
The main entrance to Sultan Ahmet Mosque is on the Hippodrome side. There are three entrances to the mosque interior. The mosque is completely enveloped in an outer courtyard, from this there are three entrances to the inner courtyard.
The inner courtyard and the edifice itself are elevated to add to its displayed grandeur. From the inner courtyard one can view the domes, rising above one another in perfect harmony, over the symbolic ablution fountain in the middle and the surrounding porticoes. Very rich pen-decorative woks, tiles and stained glasses complement the exterior view. The interior has a centralized plan; the main and side domes rise on four large piers, called elephant feet, that support broad and pointed arches. The walls of the galleries surrounding the three sides of the interior chamber are decorated by over 20,000 exquisite Iznik tiles. The areas above the tiles and the inside of the domes are decorated with amazingly colorful paintwork.
The floor is covered with carpets wall to wall, as in all mosques. Next to the mihrab (niche aligned towards Mecca) opposite the main entrance, there is a marble minber (pulpit) with exquisite marble work. On the other side is the sultan's balcony (loge). The ambient atmosphere inside the mosque is very light and relaxing as 260 windows flood the day light into the interior space, which is covered by a dome 23.5 m in diameter and 43 m high.
In summer months lazer light and sound shows are organized in the park outside the mosque. Sultan Ahmet Mosque is a focal point in the city tours, together with the numerous monumental buildings and museums in the vicinity.
