The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul.
Sultanahmet with a garden foreground
The entrance to the courtyard framing the Sultanahmet
Kneeling
The front (?) of the courtyard of the Sultanahmet Mosque
Cat and flowers
Arches, columns
The courtyard of the Sultanahmet
The massive, optically warped interior
Praying
Praying
Bowing down
Fountain foreground
One Response
October 1st, 2009 at 9:47 am
We did an organised tour of turkey which included a one day tour of Istanbul. At least three days is needed.The food, the people, the place and ahhhh! the apple tea.
We will return.
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