The Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii), is a historic imperial mosque from the Ottoman era located in Istanbul, Turkey. Built between 1609 and 1617 during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I, it continues to serve as a place of worship while also drawing numerous tourists. It is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and celebrated examples of Ottoman architecture.
Designed in the classical Ottoman style, the mosque features a central dome flanked by four semi-domes above the main prayer hall. It is fronted by a spacious courtyard and distinguished by its six minarets. Inside, the mosque is adorned with thousands of Iznik tiles and painted floral designs, primarily in shades of blue, which inspired its popular nickname. The mosque complex, or külliye, includes Sultan Ahmed’s tomb, a madrasa, and several other structures, some of which remain in varying states of preservation.
Located adjacent to the former Hippodrome and directly facing the Hagia Sophia, another major landmark, the Blue Mosque was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 as part of the "Historic Areas of Istanbul."
