The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

What's so blue about the Blue Mosque? Not much.

The Blue Mosque is one of the most famous religious buildings of the world. The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. They are mostly on the upper level and it is difficult to see unless you're right up there with them. So, forget the blue tiles!

The Blue Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I as a rival to Hagia Sophia and designed by architect Mehmet Aga. Construction on the Blue Mosque began in 1609 and took only 7 years. Sultan Ahmet died only a year after the completion of his masterpiece, at the age of 27. He is buried just outside the Blue Mosque with his wife and 3 sons.

It's built on the site of the Great Palace of Byzantium, on the southeastern side of the Hippodrome.
With its six minarets and a great cascade of domes, the mosque is a worthy sibling to Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) just a few minutes' stroll to the north.

This is one of Istanbul's premier sights, and you're welcome to visit at most times of day, for free.
But it's also a working mosque, so it's closed to non-worshippers for a half hour or so during the five daily prayers closed for a longer time from midday on Friday, the Muslim holy day.

This Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul.