History

In the heart of Istanbul, in the most spectacular corner of the historical peninsula, with its six minarets reaching for the sky, the Blue Mosque looks like something out of a fairy tale. In this blog post, In the Shadow of Blue Traces, we will dive into the mysterious story of this magnificent building and take a look at its historical and architectural details. 

Blue Mosque History 

The Blue Mosque was built in the early 17th century as an indicator of the might and splendor of the Ottoman Empire. Built in 1609 by Sultan Ahmed I, the mosque was completed in 1616 after 7 years of work. Designed by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, a student of Mimar Sinan, the mosque is one of the most important works of classical Ottoman architecture. 

Blue Mosque Architecture 

The Blue Mosque is a magnificent building that attracts attention with its 6 minarets. It is the first mosque with 6 minarets in Turkey. With its 43-meter-high central dome and 4 half domes, the mosque reaching to the sky is an architectural masterpiece. Illuminated with more than 200 colored glasses, the mosque also dazzles from the inside. The mosque, which uses Iznik tiles in its interior and exterior decorations, offers one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman art. 

Symbolic meanings are hidden in every detail of the Blue Mosque. Its 6 minarets represent the Ottoman Empire that ruled on 6 continents. Its 4 half domes symbolize the 4 sects of Islam. The tiles used in the interior decorations of the mosque also contain verses, hadiths, and Ottoman motifs. 

The Blue Mosque is more than a building on its own, it is located at the center of a complex. In addition to the mosque, there are many other buildings in the complex such as madrasas, hünkar pavilion, arasta, hammam, fountain, tomb and darüşşifa. These buildings complement the function of the mosque and provide information about the social and cultural life of the Ottoman Empire. 

Visiting the Blue Mosque 

The Blue Mosque is not only a place of worship, but also an important symbol of Istanbul and Turkey. Located opposite Hagia Sophia, the mosque adds a unique beauty to the city's skyline. Visited by millions of tourists every year, it is one of the most important tourist attractions in Istanbul. 

The Blue Mosque is open to visitors every day. It can be visited by tourists outside prayer times. Entrance is free of charge. It is compulsory to wear a headscarf and dress modestly. 

Before visiting the Blue Mosque, it is important to consider the location of your hotel. Sura Hotels is centrally located in Sultanahmet. It is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel to the mosque. From Sura Hotels, head towards Sultanahmet Square. Walk through the square towards Hagia Sophia. You will see the Blue Mosque on the left side of Hagia Sophia. 

If you are planning to visit Blue Mosque, you may want to consider staying at Sura Hotels. The central location of the hotel and the facilities it offers will give you a pleasant accommodation experience. For reservations, please visit https://surahotels.com/ .