Blue Mosque - update 1

Returning to street level, our day of touring concludes with a visit to the 17th-century Sultan Ahmed or Blue Mosque. Designed as an imperial show of strength to complement the majestic Hagia Sophia Mosque, which stands in view across Sultanahmet Square, the Blue Mosque is a masterpiece of architecture. In contrast to the Hagia Sophia, this mosque is supported by four substantial “elephant foot” pillars. Its central dome, soaring to 43m, is accompanied by four semi-domes that create an almost square appearance, and over 20,000 handmade Iznik tiles adorn its interior, all illuminated by 260 windows.

Source: Academy Travel brochure

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii), popularly known as the Blue Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I. It attracts a large number of tourists and is one of the most iconic and popular monuments of Ottoman architecture.[1][2]

The mosque has a classical Ottoman layout with a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall. It is fronted by a large courtyard and flanked by six minarets. On the inside, it is decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs in predominantly blue colours, which give the mosque its popular name. The mosque's külliye (religious complex) includes Ahmed's tomb, a madrasa, and several other buildings in various states of preservation.

The mosque was built next to the former Hippodrome and stands across from the Hagia Sophia, another popular tourist site. The Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985 under the name of "Historic Areas of Istanbul". [Wikipedia]



Why is is called the Blue Mosque I suspect

The interior with central dome

We had our introductory tour dinner at The Terrace restaurant atop the Sura Concept Hotel across the road. It had 360 degree views of the mosques, the Bosporus Strait, the Sea of Marmara and across the sea to Asia.  Our meal included five dips (without bread for me), a lamb and eggplant stew and one slice of baklava (my imposition), and for non-wine drinkers like me, Rakia? the Turkish drink a bit like ouzo. 

I learned that the mosque I can see from my window is the Blue Mosque, lit up beautifully during tonight's dinner.

Dinner at The Terrace Restaurant, Sura Concept Hotel



My Colour Happy image








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