The Blue Mosque

Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa, the architect of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, paid tribute to his colleagues Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, the architects of the neighboring Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia), who designed their masterpiece a thousand years before Mehmet Aga was born.

As you move deep into Ayasofya, the domes seem to rise into space, creating their own "heavens." In the Blue Mosque, Mehmet Aga has duplicated the effect on the exterior of the building: approaching from the front and ascending the stairs towards the courtyard, the domes rise upwards until entering the courtyard, the full grandeur of the exterior is revealed.

Due to the large crowds and the fact that Sultan Ahmet is a working mosque, you need to plan your visit carefully. It is closed to non-worshippers for 45 minutes before the call to prayer, 30 minutes after, and all of Friday morning (until 2:30/2:30 p.m.), a Muslim holiday. Admission is free; donations gratefully accepted. If you don't manage to visit the inside of the Blue Mosque because it is often closed for prayers or the waiting time is too long or too crowded, you can experience this magical effect from the outside.

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/BlueMosque.html

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/BlueMosqueMagic.html

Photo: Jeffry Surianto