The Sultan Ahmet Camii, commonly known as the Blue Mosque, with
its tiers of magnificent domes and six graceful minarets is one of
the most striking and immediately distinguishable structures on the
Istanbul's skyline. Constructed as an Islamic rival to the Hagia
Sophia in 1609, it is one of the finest examples of Ottoman
architecture and is still used by hundreds of worshippers. The
interior is splendidly decorated with thousands of blue and white
Iznik tiles embellished with traditional Ottoman flower patterns,
and it is this special feature that gives the mosque its name. Its
design of successively descending smaller domes, soaring columns
and 260 stained glass windows leaves a lasting impression of
graceful accord and open space. At the back of the mosque is a
Carpet and Kilim Museum exhibiting antiques from all over
Turkey.
Address: Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Telephone: (212) 518 1319 Transportation: Sultanahmet tram stop Opening Time: Open daily, access restricted during prayer times,
especially at midday on Fridays. The museum is open from Tuesday to
Saturday between 9am and 4pm Admission: There is no charge for visiting the mosque, but the
museum has a small entrance fee
Travel guide by (c) Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
