Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

Directly opposite the Hagia Sophia stands the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) — the masterpiece of architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, built 1609–1616 at the behest of Sultan Ahmed I. It is the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets and the landmark of the district.

Its nickname comes from the over 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles inside, predominantly in blue tones, featuring floral and geometric patterns. The interplay of blue ceramics, 260 windows with colored glass, and the light streaming through the dome creates an almost mystical atmosphere. The main dome reaches 43 m in height and is supported by semi-domes — an architectural cascade system that visually extends the space to infinity.

The mosque is an active place of worship — respectful behavior is mandatory. The tourist entrance is on the north side. After extensive restorations (2017–2023), the interior shines in new splendor.