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The Blue Mosque in Istanbul was built in 1609-1616 during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I. It is considered one of the most outstanding examples of both Islamic and world architecture. The majestic building is located in the historical part of the city near the Hagia Sophia. Used as a working mosque.
Historical reference
The construction of the mosque was preceded by unsuccessful wars, as a result of which the authority of the Ottoman Empire noticeably declined. There was talk in the Muslim world that the wrath of Allah was to blame. Over the past 40 years, not a single mosque was built, and Ahmed I decided to appease the celestial. He decided to erect a majestic structure that would atone for the sins of all Turkish sultans.
Since the wars were unsuccessful, the state treasury was not replenished. Therefore, the Ottoman ruler allocated money for construction work from his own treasury. All organizational and construction activities were carefully recorded, and 6 volumes were obtained. They are currently kept in the Topkapi Palace library.
The building structure was erected on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors. For this purpose, the existing foundation was used. The nearby buildings and spectator areas of the Hippodrome were also destroyed.
The chief architect of the construction work was Sedefkar Mehmet. He came from the Janissaries and attracted the attention of the famous architect Sinan. He made the intelligent young man his student. And the student, having gained experience, decided to surpass the teacher by bringing to life a huge architectural masterpiece.
Description of the Blue Mosque
The length of the structure is 73 meters. The width is 65 meters. The height of the dome reaches 43 meters. The internal diameter of the dome is 23.5 meters. In addition to the main dome, there are 8 secondary domes and 6 minarets. The height of the minaret is 64 meters.
This structure is the culmination of 200 years of Ottoman mosque construction. It includes not only traditional Islamic architecture, but also some elements of Byzantine architecture.
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul got its name from the blue and white handmade tiles. They were used in interior decoration. The main dome covers the central hall, whose dimensions are 53 by 51 meters. It is supported by 4 columns with a diameter of 5 meters. All domes are painted with quotes from the Koran. The floor is covered with carpets.
Daylight enters the room through 260 windows. The secondary domes have 14 windows, and the main one has 28, 4 of which are blind. At first, colored glass from Venice was used. But at present, almost all glass has been replaced with modern glass without artistic decoration.
The most important element is the mihrab (prayer niche). It is made of a single piece of marble and is surrounded by many windows. Adjacent walls are lined with ceramic tiles. To the right of the mihrab is the pulpit or minbar. This is the place where the imam reads the midday prayers at noon on Fridays and holidays. At the same time, the acoustics are ideal.
The royal box is located in the southeast corner of the building on the upper gallery. It is supported by ten marble columns and has its own mihrab. Previously, it was decorated with jade and gilding. Many of the lamps inside were once covered with gold and precious stones. All of this jewelry was either stolen or removed and hidden.
In the western part of the prayer complex there is a special entrance, blocked by a chain. Only the Sultan could enter the mosque courtyard through it. The chain was pulled from the ground to such a height that the ruler could pass under it with his head down. This was a symbolic gesture showing that the Sultan was lower than Allah and bowed to him.
The mosque is not a separate building, but an entire architectural complex. It includes a caravanserai, a madrasa, a hospital, and food preparation facilities. In the 19th century, the hospital and caravanserai were destroyed.
There are 6 minarets. For this, the Muslim world subjected the Sultan to severe criticism, since only the main mosque of the Kaaba in Mecca had such a number of minarets. Ahmed I solved this problem. He ordered the construction of the 7th minaret in Mecca.
Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque. Each of them has 3 balconies. Two minarets are located at the end of the square and have 2 balconies. There is a mausoleum next to the mosque. It contains the remains of Sultan Ahmed I.
Visit to the Blue Mosque of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI visited the Main Mosque of Istanbul on November 30, 2006 during a visit to Turkey. This is the second papal visit to the Muslim world in the entire history of Islam. The head of the Catholic Church took off his shoes and, closing his eyes, plunged into silent prayer. Next to him stood the mufti of Istanbul and the imam of the mosque.
After this, the pontiff noted that Türkiye is a bridge of friendship between the West and the East. He thanked the Turkish people for their warm welcome and kindness.
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) - (Sultanahmet Camii) is the largest mosque in Istanbul and a real symbol of the historical part of the city. The mosque was built during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I. Construction of the Ahmediye Mosque (old name) began in 1609 and ended in 1616. The remains of Sultan Ahmed I rest in the mausoleum, which is located next to the mosque.
The mosque is located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara on the same square with another Byzantine shrine - the Hagia Sophia (now a mosque and museum). The history of the construction of the Blue Mosque dates back to the early 17th century, when the Ottoman Empire was at war with the Austrians and Persians. The defeat in the war greatly undermined the international authority of the Sultan and the Ottoman Empire, and then Sultan Ahmed I decided to seek the mercy of Allah and build the greatest mosque in the world. Construction of the mosque began in 1909, when the Sultan was only 19 years old. It is interesting that the mosques, erected as a sign of gratitude to the Almighty, were built with money obtained during wars. Sultan Ahmet I had not won a single war by that time, so funds for the construction of the Blue Mosque were taken from the state treasury. No expense was spared on the construction of the mosque - black Damascus marble was delivered from Syria, green - from Saudi Arabia, and red was mined in Eastern Anatolia.
The architect of the Blue Mosque was Sedefkar Mehmet Agha, a student and chief assistant of the legendary architect Sinan, who sought to surpass his mentor. The architecture of the building combines classical Ottoman and Byzantine styles. The Blue Mosque received its name due to the use of a huge number of handmade white and blue Iznik tiles in its decoration. The dome and semi-domes of the mosque are decorated with suras from the Koran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. What makes the mosque unique is the mihrab, a prayer niche carved from a single block of marble. On the mihrab there is a black stone brought from Mecca.
There is an entrance from the western part of the mosque, which historically could only be used by the Sultan, entering the courtyard on horseback. A chain hung over the gate, and the Sultan, entering the gate of the mosque, bent down, which showed his insignificance in comparison with the Almighty. The mosque complex includes a large number of buildings - a madrasah, a hospital, charitable institutions, kitchens, a caravanserai and other buildings. Four minarets of the mosque have three balconies each and two minarets have two balconies each. Initially, there were 14 balconies - according to the number of predecessors of Sultan Ahmed I. An interesting fact is that when the construction of the Blue Mosque was completed, it turned out that the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca - the greatest shrine of Muslims, equaled the number of minarets with the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Then it was decided to add another minaret to the al-Haram mosque so that it would again become the largest mosque in the world.
Today the mosque seats 10,000 people, and the Turks have a tradition of gathering at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque before the start of the Hajj to Mecca.
HOW TO GET THERE
Getting to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is very easy - it is located at the T1 tram stop of the same name (Bagcilar - Kabatas). If you are coming from Bagcilar/Zeitinburnu/Aksaray, you need to get off at Sultanahmet station and you will see the square where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are located.
If you want to get to the mosque from Taksim Square, you can take the cable car down to Kabatas station and take the T1 tram to Sultanahmet station. Alternatively, you can take a bus to the Aksaray stop and from there take the T1 tram towards Kabatas to the stop you need.
From the Asian part of the city you can get to the Eminönü and Kabatas piers by boat by transferring to the T1 tram at the pier.
WHAT IS THE PRICE
Entrance to the Blue Mosque is free, but the mosque is active, so during prayers and religious holidays the entrance to tourists will be closed. Please note that entering the mosque requires no shoes. You can pick up a shoe bag at the entrance at the turnstile.
Mosque address: At Meydanı No.7 34122, Fatih
Office phone: 0212 458 07 76
Email: [email protected]
Facebook page:
Updated 04/03/2019
Before arriving in this city, I knew that the Blue Mosque (Istanbul) or the Sultanahmet Mosque (its second name) is one of its most important symbols and its calling card at the same time. But it’s one thing to read, and completely different to see everything with your own eyes. Now I can say with confidence that the Blue Mosque is the dominant feature of the historical part of Istanbul. She attracts your attention wherever you are. The monumental building attracts at any time of the day and in any weather.
The unusual history of the construction of the Blue Mosque
For a building that attracts millions of tourists every year, the Blue Mosque (Istanbul) is relatively new. Although, the main word in this sentence is relatively. After all, 400 years is not a big deal either. Although), located not far from the Blue Mosque, will definitely give her a head start in age.
The second name of the religious building is Sultanahmet Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii). Everything is clear with him - at the beginning of the 17th century, the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Ahmed I, decided to build a grandiose mosque, which was done.
But why is the mosque called the Blue Mosque? No matter how much you look at it, you won’t even find a hint of blue. Everything becomes clear after getting inside, but more on that a little later.
Sultan Ahmed I inherited the throne at the age of 13. The first years of his reign were marked by unsuccessful military campaigns, uprisings and increasing corruption. Naturally, the ruler wanted to leave his mark on history and therefore ordered the construction of a mosque that would become a symbol of Istanbul. It became the mosque of Sultan Ahmet.
Ahmed I approved the architect, instructing him to build golden minarets, which sounded like “altyn” in Turkish. However, his words were understood a little differently. The architect decided that the Sultan wanted to surround the new mosque with six minarets (translated as “altas”). Moreover, by the beginning of the 17th century, only one mosque in the whole world had so many minarets (usually there were one, two or four). It's about Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca- the greatest shrine of the Islamic world.
And when the construction of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul was completed, a real scandal broke out. It was extinguished with the help of a wise decision - to the Masjid al-Haram mosque the seventh minaret was completed. The dull architect also escaped punishment. Ahmed I liked the new mosque so much that he did not execute him. In short, a happy ending.
The construction of the Blue Mosque (Istanbul) took more than seven years. During this time, workers erected a religious building with a huge courtyard, as well as a whole complex of buildings, including a Muslim school, kitchen, hospital and other institutions. Stone and marble were used as the main building materials.
Blue Mosque from inside
Inside the mosque decorated with handmade ceramic tiles. They were painted white and blue. It was thanks to this ceramics that the mosque received its second name - Blue. Nowadays it has become more popular than the name Sultanahmet Mosque.
The diameter of the dome of the Blue Mosque exceeds 23 meters, and its height is 43 meters. It covers the central hall of the religious building measuring 51 by 53 meters and is supported by four giant columns.
Despite the abundance of stone and massive forms, the Blue Mosque (Istanbul) does not produce an oppressive and heavy building. Firstly, thanks to the high dome, and secondly, due to the large number of windows - there are more than 250 of them.
Walls, dome and half-domes of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque decorated with various ornaments and patterns, in which plant motifs predominate. Also here are a large number of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and suras from the Koran. The floor of the mosque is covered with carpets, about which I will say a few words below.
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul was completed in 1616. Alas, Sultan Ahmed I, after whom it was named, did not long enjoy the beauty of the majestic building. A year later he fell ill with typhus and died at the age of 27. And, despite the fact that his reign was not marked by military successes, progressive reforms or economic development, he still managed to write his name into a milestone in history. By the way, the Ottoman ruler was buried not far from the Blue Mosque.
Impressions from the visit and why clothespins are needed
Ahmed I admired the new mosque for only a year, and centuries later it became one of the most visited buildings in Istanbul. Not only devout Muslims come here every day to pray to Allah, but also hundreds of tourists from all over the world. Since I lived near the Blue Mosque, I constantly postponed my visit there, preferring to explore the sights of the city that were not within walking distance. For example, I went to. But the time has come for the Blue Mosque.
Finding a moment when it was not closed to tourists (infidels are not allowed inside during Muslim prayers), I approached the entrance. Since the mosque is active, you can only enter it in certain clothes. It is not recommended for men to enter in short shorts and bareheaded for women. At the same time, if necessary, a cape for your head they will give it for free. Information stands remind you of the rules for equipping tourists.
Also, you cannot enter the mosque with shoes. There are special lockers with rolls of disposable bags in front of the entrance.
You need to tear off one such bag, take off your shoes and put the shoes in the bag, taking it with you.
Smell in the mosque: is it there or not?
You go inside in anticipation of how high the ceilings will be and how skillfully the tiled tiles are made, but then a thick and persistent smell covers you... It’s not very convenient to write about this, but imagine for yourself: carpets, thousands of barefoot or socked tourists who, Unlike those who pray, they do not perform ablution before going inside. Now it’s clear what smell I’m talking about?
There were three of us and we all felt this unpleasant smell. But such carpeting for mosques is common, so no one will replace it. Again, Muslims always perform foot washing. It turns out that the whole problem is not very clean tourists. On the other hand, anyone will get sweaty feet if they walk around all day exploring the sights of Istanbul. Or maybe my comrades and I have too strong a sense of smell? Who has been to the Blue Mosque, tell us about your impressions.
Useful information for visiting the Blue Mosque
Address: Sultanahmet Meydani Torun Sokak, No19, Sultanahmet.
Website: sultanahmetcami.org.
Blue Mosque (Istanbul) on the map
How to get there: To get to the Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul, you need to take the tram and get off at the Sultanahmet stop. For those who stay in the historical center of the city, the mosque will be within walking distance.
Mosque opening hours
- From 9:00 to 18:00 daily in winter (November to March).
- From 9.00 to 21.00 in summer (from April to October).
At the same time, several times a day (during prayers) the entrance to tourists is closed.
Price: There is no charge for visiting the Blue Mosque.
There are many attractions near the Blue Mosque, including those that not all tourists know about. For example, .
Excursions with a visit to the Blue Mosque
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The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is one of the most visited in the city. It is located very well - close to other main Istanbul attractions, so you should definitely visit it. After all, it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to touch an unfamiliar culture, and here it’s also very beautiful, a real architectural monument.
The history of this monument resembles an action-packed novel. The Sultanahmet Mosque (the real name of the Blue Mosque) was erected by order of the Turkish Sultan Ahmed I. Today it is the largest mosque!
Construction work started in 1609 and dragged on for seven long years. At that moment, she lost the war with Austria and signed peace on very humiliating terms for herself. And 19-year-old Ahmed I decided to build a luxurious mosque in order to somehow appease Allah. Moreover, the construction was paid for from his personal treasury!
Expensive marble and rare types of stone were used as building materials. And the niche for prayers (mahrib) was completely carved from a single block of marble. It still lies here one of a kind black stone, which was brought specially from Mecca.
The ceramic tiles that decorate the mosque are painted with blue and white flowers. Thanks to this, the mosque was nicknamed the “Blue Mosque”.
It is curious that the unique tiles with floral patterns (there are about tulips alone) 50 variations) were made at the ancient Inzik manufactory. Its only customer was Sultan Ahmet I, who forced the owners of the manufactory to break contracts with all other clients. As a result, the company went bankrupt...
The wall towards which one turns during prayer was once decorated 260 stained glass windows the work of the best Byzantine masters, and the floor is covered with the most beautiful handmade carpets. Now the windows have been replaced, which, however, does not make them any less beautiful.
Another one "highlight" of the Blue Mosque- for some reason there are not four in it, but six minarets. Legend has it that this happened due to a simple mistake by the architect. I think that in fact, the Sultan himself initially ordered the construction of exactly six minarets, and when the fuss began, he placed all the blame on the architect. The construction of a mosque with six minarets caused a lot of noise in Muslim society, because there were 6 minarets in Mecca, and only there. As a result, in order for the mosque in Mecca to remain the grandest in the world, it was decided to complete the construction of the seventh minaret there.
2. Useful information
2.1. Where is
The mosque is located in the historical center of Istanbul, opposite on the other side of Sultanahmet Park.
Location on the map:
View of the mosque from the park:
2.2. How to get there
- On foot
A walking tour through the historical part of the city will definitely lead you to the Blue Mosque.
- By taxi
It is advisable to order a taxi if you only have a few hours to explore Istanbul and do not want to waste extra time on the road. But be prepared for the price of the trip to be prohibitive. Istanbul taxi drivers do not like to go by meters, but immediately tell the total amount.
- By light rail
The stop we need is called Sultanahmet.
- Book an excursion
A visit to the Blue Mosque is included in the program of any sightseeing tour of Istanbul (for example,). The excursion can be booked either at your hotel or online. If you really want to immerse yourself in the life of Istanbul and learn more about historical and cultural places, then I recommend taking a tour from the locals - here and here you can see what tours of Istanbul are offered.
2.3. Visiting time
Sultanahmet Mosque is open from 8 am to evening, but tourists can only get inside during certain hours:
- With 8.30 before 12.30;
- With 14.00 before 16.30;
- With 17.45 before 18.30.
There are usually fewer people in the morning than in the afternoon.
Crowd in front of the mosque (this is after lunch):
Every day there is a free excursion on the territory of the mosque, where in half an hour you can get acquainted with the history of the Blue Mosque, as well as learn a little about Islamic culture:
2.4. Price
Entrance to the Blue Mosque is free. Before entering, you must take off your shoes and put on special clothing.
Rules of behavior on the territory of the mosque. And examples of “correct” and “incorrect” clothing:
The queue for clothes, which are issued free of charge and returned at the exit from the mosque:
3. Photo walk around the mosque
Signs on the mosque grounds:
Here you can take clothes for entry. But tourists are given it in another place - right at the entrance to the mosque:
Here you can get yourself a shoe bag for free. Moreover, as you can see in the picture, you cannot use bags as shoe covers. Shoes must be removed and placed in a bag:
You can leave your shoes on this shelf, or you can take them with you:
Close-up view of the Blue Mosque:
Nice patio:
The queue for clothes at the entrance (I had to stand for about fifteen minutes):
Miniature copy of the mosque:
Luxurious interior decoration in blue tones:
Only worshipers, and men, can enter the center of the mosque:
Women are not allowed here:
The girl accidentally snuck into the forbidden territory:
Tourists are offered to get to know Islam better:
Layout of the mosque and its territory:
The women's prayer area is ten times smaller than the men's. At the same time, the territory is carefully fenced off from prying eyes, although women always wear hijabs:
Do you see the man in the photo on the left? This, by the way, is some important sheikh. There were always two guards next to him, who put on his shoes and led him by the arms:
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