Blue Mosque

Sunday morning we started the day with a visit to another major sight in Istanbul, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque popularly known as the Blue Mosque.

This mosque was completed in 1617. It is considered as one of the last classical Ottoman structures, but it also has incorporated new architectural and decorative elements that point to a departure from the classical tradition.

Constructing large mosque complexes for the public was part of the imperial tradition denoting a benevolent ruler, and it was designed as a show of strength to complement the imposing Hagia Sophia just opposite.

The inner frame of the mosque is a domed arcade, uniform on all sides except for the prayer hall entrance.
The six minarets were unusual even for an imperial mosque. Legend has it that this happened because of a misunderstanding; when the Sultan decided there should be altīn minaret (=gold minarets), the architect heard altī minaret (=six minarets) - an easy mistake!
The only other mosque with six minarets at the time was the mosque in Mecca, so this caused some controversy. A seventh minaret was ordered to be added in Mecca...

There are some 260 windows, originally containing imported Venetian stained glass. Most of the original windows have been lost and since replaced with less elaborate windows. These modern windows make the interior of the mosque brighter than the original stained glass windows would have.

The upper sections of the mosque are painted in geometric bands and various motifs, but much of it is not original. The predominant colour of this paintwork is blue, one of the reasons for the mosque's popular name.

There are more than 20,000 Iznik tiles that dazzle with the brilliant blue, green and turquoise colours in more than 50 different designs. Some were designed especially for this mosque, some have been reused from other buildings.
This lavish use of tile decoration on the interior was a first in Imperial Ottoman mosque architecture.

The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems.

The minbar, the pulpit where the imam stand when he delivers his sermon. This is crafted from carved marble and its summit is covered by a gold-covered conical cap.

Once you came out into the arcaded courtyard, they had an exhibition in the portico about Ramadan, and Islam in general. A nice additional touch for those who might not be as familiar.

Then we were off on our next adventure!