Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, popularly known as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. It was built between 1609 and 1616 during Ahmed I's reign.

It includes a founder's tomb, a madrasa, and a hospice, just like many other mosques. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still in use as a mosque, but it has also become a major tourist destination in Istanbul.

The Blue Mosque stands out not just because of its six minarets, but also because of its interior decorations and lights. The mosque is still known as the Blue Mosque today because of the blue tint that dominates the inside.

At first appearance, the Blue Mosque appears to be a worthy competitor to the Hagia Sophia. The vast courtyard (about the same size as the mosque itself) is the largest of all Ottoman mosques, and the six minarets (more than any mosque in Istanbul) make for a magnificent silhouette, especially when floodlit after dusk.