3 Days in Istanbul: The Blue Mosque

Istanbul, Turkey

After visiting the Hagia Sophia, I walked across Sultanahmet Square to visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (or Blue Mosque). Seeing the minarets and domes of the Mosque from across the the square, the Mosque has the effect I'm sure it's architect intended; to inspire awe with its overwhelming size, majesty and splendor.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (or Blue Mosque) is one of the most recognizable buildings in the Islamic world. It's architectural styling, with six minarets, and attention to detail is awe inspiring; no expense seems to have been spared in its construction.

The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at Iznik city (Nicaea) in more than fifty different tulip designs. ​The upper levels of the Mosque interior is dominated by blue paint. More than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs admit natural light. The decorations include verses from the Qur'an, many of them made by Seyyid Kasim Gubari, regarded as the greatest calligrapher of his time.

Each of the domes has 14 windows with the central dome having 28 windows (four of which are blind). The colored glass for the windows was a gift from the Signoria of Venice to the sultan. Most of the colored windows have been replaced by the current modern versions.

The Mosque is closed at posted prayer times, and is also closed for half a day on Friday (until 14:30 / 2:30pm) because of the Muslim holy day. Additionally, there is a strict dress code that visitors are expected to adhere to. Women have to wear headscarf and their shoulders and legs must be covered. Women can can borrow a scarf for their head or a robe if they don't meet the dress code. Men should wear full length trousers (no shorts) and can borrow a sheet to wrap around their waist to cover the legs.

Outside the Mosque sits Sultanahmet Square. Early in the morning, before the tourists arrive, you will often find the locals relaxing before beginning their day. On the day I visited, it was a sunny, warm day, perfect for sitting, relaxing and listening to the birds.

The experience of visiting the Mosque is one of peacefulness. Inside, as a place of worship, it's quiet. The interior architecture lends to this feeling; the patterns repeat expectedly, with their subtle color and the light streaming in the windows, giving the interior a soft glow.