Sultanahmet Camii
Sultanahmet Camii is one of the notable stops in Istanbul, with a route-friendly location for your trip.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1609
- Opened
- 1616
- Architect
- Sedefkar Mehmed Ağa
- Commissioned by
- Ahmed I
- Architectural style
- Ottoman architecture
- Height
- 64 m
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why did the mosque's six minarets cause controversy?
At the time the only building with six minarets was the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, and the resemblance drew criticism. The traditional account says the issue was resolved by adding a seventh minaret in Mecca.
Why is it called the Blue Mosque?
The name comes from the more than 20,000 İznik tiles lining the interior. Their dominant blue-green tones, lit by over 200 windows, create the effect — though the name took hold in Western languages rather than Turkish.
What stood on the square where the mosque was built?
The mosque was built beside the Byzantine Hippodrome. The Obelisk of Theodosius brought from Egypt, the Serpent Column and the Walled Obelisk still stand there — the obelisk is around 3,500 years old and the oldest standing monument in Istanbul.
Why go?
- Easy to add to your route
- Good photo stop
- Popular local highlight
