The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Why visit The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque has an interesting history. It was completed in 1617 just prior to the untimely death of its then 27-year old eponymous patron, Sultan Ahmet I. The mosque is a magnificent structure that dominates the city's skyline with its elegant composition of ascending domes and six slender minarets.

The Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list back in 1985 under its original name, "The Historic Areas of Istanbul."  The prayer hall is punctuated with several architectural features including the sultan’s platform and an arcaded gallery running along its interior walls except on one side, which has been left exposed to focus attention towards Mecca. From the inside, you can't help but be amazed by how iconic this mosque looks, as outside. This ancient Islamic architectural wonder is one you won't want to miss!