Sultanahmet Camii, in Turkish, is well-known as the Blue Mosque and a historical place. It is known as the Blue Mosque due to its blue tiles covering the interior walls. Travelers always have many questions about visiting the Blue Mosque, from the entrance fee to the dress code, where to put their shoes, etc. Here, we are going to answer all these kinds of questions after giving a brief introduction to the history of the Blue mosque.
All About Turkey Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
This historical Mosque was built during the empire of Ahmed I from 1609 to 1616. After losing in the 1603-1618 war with with Persia due to asserting Ottoman power again, Sultan Ahmet said, ” I decided to build one of the biggest mosques in Istanbul.”
Blue Mosque, Turkey For more than forty years, Sultanahmet mosque would be the first imperial mosque. Like many other mosques in Turkey, this mosque has a madrasa, a hospice, and, importantly, a tomb of the founder.
Sultanahmet mosque is not just a tourist attraction; it is also active. During prayer time, the mosque is closed to non-worshippers for half an hour. This mosque is historical, and the best way to see its architecture is at the Hippodrome. The entrance for non-Muslim and Muslim visitors is the same.
Structure of the Blue Mosque
The mosque was begun in August 1609. Sedefkar Mehmet Aa, a student of the famous architect Sinan, was in charge of the project. The eight-volume comprehensive notebook for the building is still kept in the library of Topkapi Palace.
In contrast to the year (1616) recorded on the mosque’s entrance, Sultan Ahmet I was present for the 1617 dedication of Istanbul’s final imperial mosque. Sultan Ahmet’s successor, Mustafa I, signed the final accounts when the building had not yet been completed.
The Sultanahmet Mosque successfully integrates two different architectural styles. The nearby Hagia Sophia borrows Byzantine and conventional Islamic architectural features.
Architecture of the Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque includes six minarets, eight secondary domes, and one central dome. The design is the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire’s two centuries of mosque construction. It is regarded as the final prominent mosque of the classical era and combines specific Byzantine Christian characteristics of the nearby Hagia Sophia with conventional Islamic design. Sedefkâr Mehmed Aa, the architect, combined the concepts of his teacher Sinan, striving for enormous grandeur, majesty, and splendor.
• Interior of the Blue Mosque
More than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles in the Iznik (ancient Nicaea) style, with more than fifty distinct tulip motifs, line the inside of the mosque at its lower levels and each pier. Traditional-style tiles can be seen at lower levels and the gallery level. The Iznik master was the supervisor of making and designing the tiles.
• Exterior of the Blue Mosque
Except for the turrets located on the corners of domes, the façade of Sultanahmet Mosque is the same as the front door of Süleymaniye Mosque. The court is enclosed by a continuous domed arcade almost the same size as the mosque (Revak). There are restrooms on both sides. In comparison to the courtyard, the central hexagonal fountain is tiny.
On the western side of the mosque entrance, a large iron chain is suspended at the top of the door. Only the sultan was permitted to enter the mosque’s court by horse. The chain was placed there so that when the sultan entered the court, he would have to drop his head to avoid being struck. This was a symbolic action demonstrating the ruler’s respect for the divine.
• Minarets of the Blue Mosque
Two mosques have six minarets; one is Sabanc Mosque in Adana, and the other is Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Turkey. When the number of minarets was disclosed, and since it was the same number of minarets as the Ka’aba in Mecca, the Sultan was criticized for being presumptuous about the Ka’aba. He overcomes this presumptuous by ordering the construction of a seventh minaret at the mosque in Mecca.
Some legends have it that the number of minarets results from a misunderstanding. They say that the architect made a simple error: The Sultan ordered the altın minarets (gold minarets), but the architect heard altı minaret (six minarets).
Rules and Regulations of the Blue Mosque
Every visitor should consider some essential rules for entering the blue mosque, such as wearing rules, rules about shoes, and laws about inside the mosque. Below is a brief description of all these rules.
• Wearing rules in the blue mosque
For women, a head covering is necessary for entering the Sultan Ahmad Mosque. Some free head coverings are accessible at the Blue Mosque entrance. You should put the cover on top of your head. Take one side, covering your shoulders, and wrap it around your neck. The covering is intended to conceal your hair; you don’t need to cover your face.
For men, pants past the knees are necessary. Shorts and trousers that don’t reach the knees are inappropriate for visiting.
• Shoes rules in the blue mosque
Before entering the mosque, please remove your shoes and put them in the plastic bags provided. According to Muslim tradition, everyone must do this.
• Rules about inside the mosque
You should be quiet and don’t use flash photography inside the mosque. Avoid gazing at or photographing people praying because this place is for worship. Visit the mosque in silence and respect. You can return head coverings to certain personnel standing at the exit doors and place used plastic bags in designated trash bags at the mosque’s exit.
The Best Time for Visiting the Blue Mosque
Since the blue mosque is active, visiting times for tourists and praying are different.
• Visiting time for Tourists
The Blue Mosque is closed to tourists during prayer time. It is generally open from 8:30 a.m. until dusk, and each prayer time lasts 90 minutes on weekdays and 2 hours on Fridays.
• Visiting time for prayer
As mentioned, Sultan Ahmad Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii, Blue Mosque) is a working mosque, so it is always open before morning prayer at 5:30 for Muslims from every nationality and country until the last prayer time. Non-Muslims can also enter the mosque during prayer time but cannot take pictures.
More about The Blue Mosque
More than 200 stained glass windows and many chandeliers within the mosque offer light. Ostrich eggs were placed everywhere, like on the chandeliers, to keep spiders away and prevent cobwebs inside the mosque. The carpets that cover the mosque are constantly changed when worn out.
The imperial loge, supported by ten marble columns, and the mihrab, built of exquisitely carved and sculptured marble, are noteworthy features of the central area.