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Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) Description: With its cascade of opulent domes and slender, balconied minarets soaring towards the sky, Istanbul’s Blue Mosque is one of the city’s most striking images. Construction was begun in 1609 under the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet Khan I, who wished to create a place of Islamic worship to rival the Aya Sofya, or Hagia Sophia, constructed under the Roman ruler Justinian II in AD 532 and located across the Hippodrome, the old city’s central plaza. Completed in 1619, the Blue Mosque, so called due to the colour of the thousands of intricate Iznik tiles that line the interior, was regarded as sacrilegious since it featured six minarets instead of four, as is traditional. The only other mosque to have six minarets was the most holy mosque of all, the al-Haram Mosque in Mecca; a seventh minaret was later added to the al-Haram Mosque. The interior of the mosque features a massive dome supported by four grand columns, five metres (16ft) in diameter, as well as characteristic Ottoman tile patterns and brightly-coloured windows. Hundreds of Muslims still use the mosque for daily prayer and worship. In the main section of the vast interior is a carpet, each tile of which is decorated with a pattern that points towards Mecca, the most holy Islamic city, which Muslims must face to pray. Visitors of all faiths who are modestly dressed may also enter the Blue Mosque; special slippers and head and shoulder coverings are distributed at the entrance. Contact Addresses: Sultanahmet Camii, Sultanahmet Meydani, Istanbul, Turkey Tel: (0212) 518 1319. Fax: (0212) 458 0776. Transportation: Air: Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Rail: Train: Sirkeci Station. Tram: Sultanahmet. Road: Bus: Sultanahmet. Car: E-80 or D-100 (from Edirne). Opening Times: Daily 0900-1800. Admission Fees: Free. 
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