The Blue Mosque - Sultan Ahmet Camii

The Blue Mosque-Sultan Ahmet Camii is one of the most beautiful and most visited landmarks in Istanbul. This magnificent mosque with its distinctive blue tiles and sweeping domes was built between 1609 and 1616. It was designed by the Turkish architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga and commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I. The courtyard of the mosque is paved with pink and white marble, and it is surrounded by four minarets. The interior of the mosque is decorated with more than 20,000 blue tiles, adding even more to its grandeur. The mosque also has over 260 stained-glass windows and 200 calligraphic panels. The Blue Mosque serves as an active place of worship and is open to visitors throughout the day. Visitors should take care, however, to behave respectfully when visiting this sacred place.