Audio GuideThe Blue Mosque

In the very centre of Istanbul stands the Sultanahmet Camii, recognised across the globe as the Blue Mosque. Built more than four centuries ago, this magnificent building is far more than a place of prayer; it stands as proof of bold vision, devotion, and artistic genius.

Olajire A Adeleke

Its story unfolds in a time of uncertainty. When a peace treaty diminished the Ottoman Empire’s renown, Sultan Ahmed the First—still only a teenager when he inherited the throne—was determined to restore his city’s lustre. Lacking the traditional spoils of conquest to pay for grand construction, he turned to the royal treasury, commissioning an extraordinary mosque that would rival the famous Hagia Sophia, just a stone’s throw away.

Jose Omar Macaya

The mosque, designed by Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, beautifully combines the elegance of Islamic architecture with influences drawn from Byzantine masterpieces. Majestic domes soar above cascades of smaller domes, while sunlight pours in through more than two hundred stained glass windows. The walls are lined with over twenty thousand handmade Iznik tiles in brilliant shades of blue and green, adorned with intricate floral patterns—the origin of its popular name.

Mr. Meer

Outside, six graceful minarets rise into the sky. In its day, this was a remarkable sight. According to legend, when Sultan Ahmed requested golden minarets, a misunderstanding meant the architect believed he wanted six minarets instead. At that time, only the mosque in Mecca had as many, which caused controversy—settled by adding a seventh minaret to the mosque in Mecca.

Mohamad Almasri

Beneath the prayer hall lies the mosque’s extensive külliye, which once housed a school, a hospital, kitchens, a marketplace, and the tomb of Sultan Ahmed himself, forming a complete hub for both spiritual and everyday life. Today, the Blue Mosque remains a vibrant place of worship, drawing countless visitors from around the world, their footsteps mingling with the quiet devotion of prayer.

Through fires, the passage of centuries, and several restorations, the Blue Mosque stands as a living monument to Istanbul’s legacy and spirit of hospitality, inviting all who come in search of beauty, history, or simply a moment’s peace.