Interesting Facts About The Blue Mosque In Istanbul

If you are planning a trip to Turkey, Here are 7 interesting facts about The Blue Mosque In Istanbul

1. The Blue Mosque is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque

The Blue Mosque is actually the nickname for the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, which is one of the most important works of Ottoman history. Sultan Ahmed I initiated the construction of the mosque in 1609 and construction finished in 1616. The architect was Sedefkâr Mehmed Agha. Unfortunately, Sultan Ahmed I only had a short while to pray inside of his mosque as he died a few months after it opened. His tomb is on the north side of the mosque facing Sultanahmet Park.

2. The Blue Mosque gets its name because of the tiles

So, why is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque called the Blue Mosque? Well, this is because of its stunning interior, which is lined with over 20,000 handmade Iznik tiles. Iznik is an Anatolian town famed for its traditional pottery. The ceramic Iznik tiles in the Blue Mosque are turquoise in colour. The upper levels of the mosque are also painted blue. This is why the building is called The Blue Mosque. Those blue tiles feature more than fifty different tulip designs. Other motifs include cypress trees, roses and fruits which evoke visions of a bountiful paradise.

3. The Blue Mosque has some incredible features

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has 260 stained glass windows, one large dome and eight smaller domes, and six minarets (a type of tower).

4. The Blue Mosque has six minarets

The Blue Mosque is the only mosque in Istanbul that has six minarets. When it was first built, this provoked hostility. The reason being that, at that time, Mecca was the only temple with six minarets. Therefore, many in the Muslim community saw it as disrespect to the Kaaba (Ka’bah). To make amends, Sultan Ahmed I financed a seventh minaret for the mosque in Mecca.

5. The Blue Mosque is in the Historic Areas of Istanbul

In 1985,