Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a symbol of Istanbul and Turkey, built between 1609 and 1616. Its architecture blends Islamic and Byzantine influences: the central hall, measuring 53 by 51 metres, is covered by a dome 23.5 metres in diameter supported by four massive columns. The mosque takes its name from more than 20,000 white-and-blue İznik tiles decorated with floral motifs including tulips, lilies, carnations and roses. The floor is covered with carpets, and the building stands opposite Hagia Sophia near the shore of the Sea of Marmara.

One legend about the Blue Mosque concerns its six minarets. According to one version, architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Agha misunderstood the sultan’s word altın, meaning “gold,” as altı, meaning “six,” and therefore gave the mosque six minarets. This caused outrage because only the Great Mosque in Mecca had as many, so the sultan added a seventh minaret there to resolve the dispute. Another version says Ahmed I deliberately wanted six minarets to surpass Hagia Sophia, which the imam of Mecca considered an act of arrogance.