Blue Mosque
Directions
Cankurtaran
830 m
Sultanahmet
430 m
180 reviews
October 9
The always crowded Sultanahmet Mosque, which gives its name to the historical district of Istanbul, is at the top of foreign "must-see places in Istanbul" lists. If you ask me, there are more aesthetic mosques in Istanbul, especially Rüstem Pasha and Ortaköy Mosques, but of course, the Sultanahmet Mosque has a completely different weight with its place in history and the city skyline. Sultan Ahmet I, who had the mosque built, wanted to do exactly this: to leave his mark on Istanbul with an imposing mosque that would be visible from all over Istanbul.
Thus, the only mosque with 6 minarets in the Ottoman Empire was built. It is decorated from top to bottom with more than 20 thousand Iznik tiles. These tiles are the reason why foreigners call this mosque "Blue Mosque". When the mosque was first built, it was met with a lot of reaction both at home and abroad. The people are upset that the state coffers are being emptied with unnecessary expenses, and the Muslim world is being flooded with the world's only mosque with 6 minarets in the Kaaba. So much so that the Sultan had to build a 7th minaret for the mosque in the Kaaba.
Sultan Ahmet I, who came to the throne at the age of 14 and wanted a mosque built in his name at the age of 19, wanted this mosque to be built in his name to be a mosque that would be visible from all over Istanbul. In addition, since Ahmet I wanted the art aspect of this mosque to be at the forefront as well as architecture, he made an agreement with Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, who was both an architect and a mother-of-pearl master. Mehmet Agha was aware that his work would compete with two important giants such as Suleymaniye and Hagia Sophia. This sweet competition resulted in the Sultanahmet Mosque, where art and liveliness are visible at every point.
We know that in the early 17th century, when the social complex was built, the economic power of the Ottoman Empire was greatly reduced, there were territorial losses, and rebellions began in Anatolia. You can imagine how much such a large structure cost the state in such a painful period. Moreover, the Sultanahmet Mosque was built with money from the state treasury, not from war spoils. This caused public reaction.
The mosque, arasta and hünkar pavilion sections of the building, which was built as a social complex between 1590-1617, were opened with a ceremony. The construction of other buildings continued until 1920. According to a rumor, on the day of the foundation laying, the sultan himself filled his skirt with stones and helped the workers. When Ahmet I died in 1617 at the age of 27, his tomb was built and he was buried here.
Sultanahmet Mosque also has a sensational side. Throughout history, Hagia Sophia wanted to surpass the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, and Suleymaniye wanted to surpass Hagia Sophia. At the end of this competition, it was decided that the Sultanahmet Mosque would surpass Hagia Sophia only, so as not to disrespect its ancestors, and the mosque was built with 6 minarets, unlike any other in the Ottoman Empire. However, these 6 minarets added much magnificence to it and caused some conflicts. This situation, which was considered disrespectful to the mosque in the Kaaba, which had 6 minarets at that time, ended when Sultan Ahmet I added a 7th minaret to the mosque in the Kaaba.
According to another rumor, Ahmet I wanted to have the minarets of the mosque made of gold. However, since this decision would exceed the state's budget, Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa pretended to understand the word "gold" as "six" and built the mosque with 6 minarets.
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July 5
A visit to the Blue Mosque in June 2024 is a delightful immersion in history and culture. The architectural beauty of the building, immersed in light, is striking in its elegance. Historical arches and domes rise, reminding of the greatness of the Ottoman Empire. This place is a real pearl of Istanbul, where every detail is filled with the grandeur of the past and pious silence.
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June 27
An amazing mosque with a huge territory where you can walk, the history of this mosque is also very interesting, it is located near the Fatih district (almost all mosques are within walking distance)
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