Blue Mosque of Sultanahmet Istanbul
One of the reasons for building the Blue Mosque of Istanbul way back in the Ottoman period was to make something as a rival to Hagia Sophia, the most famous church of Istanbul. Built by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, it is truly a masterpiece of architectural expertise. By seeing the two monuments of Istanbul located closely to each other, namely the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, visitors can compare these two historical masterpieces.
Blue Mosque and Bosphorus
While walking along the shores of the Sea of Marmara, any one can notice tone of the historical landmarks of Istanbul, that is, the Blue Mosque. One of the distinguishing features of this mosque is the array of six minarets which lend a unique identity to this place.
The construction of the Blue Mosque began in 1609 on the directions of Sultan Ahmet I and was completed in 1616. Considered to be the largest mosque of the Classical Era, it is commonly known by the name of the Blue Mosque while the official name of this mosque happens to be the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. It is a majestic masterpiece of Islamic as well as Byzantine architecture.
Another distinguishing feature of the Blue Mosque is its huge size. It can accommodate nearly 10,000 people at a time. You are greeted by refreshing fountains around the courtyard of the mosque that remind the Muslim devotees to wash their face, nose, neck, arms and feet before entering the mosque.
Made with blue-colored Iznik tiles, the mosque is truly the Blue Mosque. The blue color helps to make the mosque appear unique and full of light. This huge mosque has a dome of nearly 77 feet in diameter and 140 meters in height. It has about 260 windows and four pillars, each measuring nearly 16 feet in diameter.
While visiting the mosque, you need to keep in mind a few basic things. These include wearing a proper dress meant for visiting any religious place. Also, the mosque is closed for five times in a day for the visitors while the prayers are held inside.
If you are a Non-Muslim, you need to use the north side of the entrance for going inside. However, don’t forget to pay a visit to the west or the main entrance of the Blue Mosque which is the best part of the mosque.
The best time to visit the Blue Mosque is mid-morning. This is because you have three hours at your disposal till the gates of the mosque are closed for visitors early in the morning and at noon. However, you must enquire about the exact timings for visiting the Blue Mosque as the times may vary from season to season.