Attraction blue mosque. Video about an excursion to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Structure of the Blue Mosque

For a long time The Hagia Sophia was considered the most grandiose religious building in Istanbul. Until in the 17th century, Sultan Ahmed ordered the construction of a mosque that would not be inferior to the monumental Christian structure.

The mosque can be seen from anywhere in Istanbul; it is so majestic and extraordinary in its beauty and technique that it is simply impossible not to notice this attraction.

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History: who built the Blue Mosque?

Her story began in difficult time, when the Ottoman Empire suffered one defeat after another, and the economy was not doing well. That's why Sultan Ahmed ordered the construction of a majestic mosque in order to appease Allah. As a result, she received the name Sultanahmet.

The bright tall building, which can be seen even from the farthest corner of Istanbul, is worth your attention, because decisive historical events took place within the walls of this tower.

Construction began in 1609 - Sultan Ahmed was only 19 years old at that time, and took 7 years. The mosque was designed by Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, a student famous architect Sinana. The Sultan himself, unfortunately, lived only a year after the completion of construction, not reaching the age of 27, but managed, however, to admire the work of his hands. The story of who built the Blue Mosque in Istanbul can be told to you in more detail local residents, you can also familiarize yourself with the history of Constantinople (Istanbul).

Description of the Blue Mosque of Istanbul

Today, the Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul is one of the main historical attractions of the city. It was built according to the principle and is one of the majestic buildings of Istanbul.

Despite its impressive dimensions (64 by 72 meters), it creates a feeling of airiness and lightness. The domes are arranged as if in a cascade, this creates the impression of lightness and smoothness of the structure.

Initially, it was a whole architectural complex, which consisted of a mosque, hospital, bathhouse, caravanserai, market, primary and secondary schools, seminary. The hospital and caravanserai have not survived to this day, but we can see the rest of the buildings almost in the same form as they were before.

It received its name because of the blue tiles used in the decoration of the mosque, made in Iznik (for 7 years, the factory in Iznik produced tiles only for this construction, terminating supply contracts with other buyers).

These unique tiles line the interior walls and high ceilings. More than 20,000 white and blue tiles were used for interior decoration.

During construction they were also used valuable species marble, stones expensive breeds. The Mahrib (special niche for prayers) is carved from a single piece of white marble.

The architect Mehmed Agha, nicknamed the “jeweler,” paid attention not only to the decorative decoration of the premises, but also to engineering precision, thanks to which the building stood firmly on the ground and was not damaged during the Istanbul earthquakes. The minbar (raise, pulpit for reading prayers) is also made of a piece of white marble and covered with elaborate carvings.

One of the features is that it has as many as 6 minarets instead of the required 4 according to the rules. Perhaps this was a construction error due to an incorrect interpretation: instead of the “golden” minaret (altyn), “six” (alty) were built, and then a big scandal broke out.

The fact is that greatest number only one mosque in the world had minarets - five in fact - - Al-Haram, the main one located in Mecca. To settle the matter peacefully, Sultan Ahmed sent his personal architect to Mecca to build the sixth and seventh minarets, and thus the main mosque retained its superiority.

In front of the building is a large courtyard surrounded by 26 columns. In the very center of the courtyard there is a traditional fountain for ablutions (ablutions must be performed before prayer). There, on the eastern side, there is a madrasah (religious school).

The interior decoration amazes with its richness and splendor. It can also be called multi-colored - not only blue and white colors are used in the design, but a lot of gold painting and red and black ligature on the walls.

The room is illuminated by light coming from 260 windows. Previously, the windows had Venetian glass and stained glass, which created colorful reflections on the floor and walls. Now these are the most ordinary glasses.

On the walls are hanging sayings from the Koran, written in traditional calligraphy (done by Qasim Gubari). In the summer, historical shows (in Turkish, French and English) are held here, which tell about the heroic pages of Turkish history. Istanbul is very rich in various... And each of them is unique and worthy of admiration.

It is so huge that you will need to spend a whole day to see all the hidden corners of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The photos in our selection will show the most striking places.

Contacts and location

Address: Sultan Ahmet Mh., Torun Sokak, 19

Working hours: from 9.00 to 18.00 hours (closing time is at sunset). During prayer times (5 times a day) it is closed to tourists. Admission is free (tourists enter from the north side).

You can get to this place from any area of ​​the city. You can focus on Sultanahmet Square, this is where all the necessary public transport stops are located. Get acquainted with the streets of the city by clicking on. Find out how and where you can rent a car.

Buses (route T4) or high-speed trams TR1 go here. You should get off at the Sultanahmet stop.

From the Sisli area, you can first take the metro to Taksim station, and then transfer to the high-speed tram going to Sultanahmet Square. If you get to the attraction from, then first take the Havalimani - Aksaray metro (red line) to get to the Zeytinburnu station, and then at this station change to the TR 1 high-speed tram line, which goes straight to Sultanahmet Square (the stop is called that), where and is located in Ahmediye. So now you know where the Blue Mosque of Istanbul is.

As in any other religious institution, in the mosque you need to follow some rules.

The most majestic of the mosques was and remains the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the history and indescribable beauty of Ahmediye make it one of the brightest attractions of the city, where thousands of tourists come every year to admire the heritage of Ottoman culture. We also recommend visiting. Well, what could we do without? All about the big ones shopping centers cities, about markets - .

Video review

Video report will give brief information for a given architectural structure, but nothing can replace personal presence.

Sultan Ahmet Mosque

"Blue Mosque"

"Blue Mosque" - view from the Golden Horn

"Blue Mosque"(Sultan Ahmet Mosque, Turkish Sultanahmet Camii) - the first largest and one of the most beautiful mosques in Istanbul. The mosque has six minarets: four, as usual, on the sides, and two slightly less tall ones on the outer corners. It is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Islamic and world architecture. The mosque is located on the shore Sea of ​​Marmara in the historical center of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet district opposite the Hagia Sophia. The mosque is one of the symbols of the city.

"Blue Mosque" 1895

The courtyard of the Blue Mosque is the same size as the mosque itself. The courtyard walls are decorated with arcades.

When the construction of the Blue Mosque was completed, it turned out that the greatest shrine of the Islamic world - the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca was now equal in the number of minarets (there were 6) with the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, this was recognized as sacrilege and it was decided to add al-Haram to the mosque. Haram another minaret so that it will again surpass all existing structures.

Interesting: the mosque was depicted on the 500 lire banknote, which was in use from 1953 to 1976

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Coordinates: 41°00′20″ n. w. 28°58′35″ E. d. /  41.005556° s. w. 28.976389° E. d.(G)41.005556 , 28.976389

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See what "Sultan Ahmet Mosque" is in other dictionaries:

Mosque Central Mosque of Sabancı Sabancı Merkez Camii ... Wikipedia

If you are lucky enough to get into this mosque, then we are sure that many will express their delight in a few words: “It’s really blue!”

Inside Sultanahmet (another name for the Blue Mosque, English Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Camii) you can stand all day with open mouth", looking at the decoration of this greatest Islamic shrine. If you come to, then be sure to take time and see the Blue Mosque - the symbol of this eternal city, the second Rome, which cannot be imagined without Sultanahmet Camii. This is unique monument architecture of the early 17th century, the greatest place of power and light energy.

Blue Mosque construction history

The construction of the Mosque took only 7 years (from 1609 to 1616) and money for its construction was allocated by the young, 19-year-old Sultan Ahmed from the Sultan’s treasury. What events contributed to the start of construction?

There were several reasons for this:

• defeat in the war with
• signing an agreement to waive the demand for annual tribute from Austria
• recognition of the Habsburg imperial title by the Ottomans
• significant decline in Turkey's authority in the world
• mosques in Ottoman Empire have not been built for more than 40 years

That is why Sultan Ahmed decided to build a mosque to appease Allah. The place that was chosen for the construction of the mosque turned out to be just opposite the Church of Hagia Sophia, on the shores of the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus, not far from Topkapi Palace.

In preparation for construction on the Hippodrome Square, where Sultanahmet stands, many monuments from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods were destroyed, including the Byzantine Grand Palace, the remains of the spectator seats of the Hippodrome and many palace buildings that belonged to the highest nobility.

Blue Mosque architecture and style

In the architectural ensemble of the mosque, two styles are clearly visible - classical Ottoman and Byzantine.

For those who are looking at the Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque of Istanbul) for the first time, it is very easy to confuse it with the Hagia Sophia. It’s no wonder: Hagia Sophia also received a kind of “addition” from the Ottomans - four minarets rising above its domes.

The Blue Mosque has six such minarets. According to legend, Sultan Ahmed ordered the foundation of 4 golden (altyn) minarets during the construction of the mosque, according to the classical scheme of mosque construction, but for some reason as many as six of them (altyn) were built.

The entire structure is made of stone. The dome of the mosque is supported by four huge columns, each with a diameter of 5 meters.

And it gets its name - the Blue Mosque - because of its interior decoration - the dome arches and walls of the mosque are covered with a myriad of filigree designs created from more than 20 thousand white and blue Iznik ceramic tiles self made.

If you look closely at the drawing, you can see that the patterns decorating the mosque consist of traditional tulips (the flower is a symbol of the Ottoman dynasty), lilies, carnations and roses, as well as ornaments of various colors on a white background.

The floor of the mosque is covered with beautiful natural carpets. The mosque is well lit daylight(out of 260 windows), and in the evenings and in winter time years - with huge chandeliers hanging on powerful cables. During the construction of the mosque, Venetian glass was also used for the windows, but this was later replaced.

To enter the courtyard of the mosque, you need to go through three gates. Its outer colonnade is built of granite, with 30 small domes on top. Inside, in the central hall of the mosque there is a mihrab - a prayer niche carved entirely from a monolithic piece of marble. In the mihrab there is a black stone brought from Mecca, and next to the mihrab there is a special place - a minbar, where the imam reads his sermons.

At the western end of the mosque there is an entrance over which hangs a heavy metal chain. They say that the Sultan used this entrance when he rode into the courtyard of the mosque on horseback. The chain was specially hung so low so that the Sultan would bend down when entering the courtyard of the mosque, and with this bow he would testify to his insignificance before Allah.

In the center of the courtyard of the Blue Mosque there is a small hexagonal fountain (Türkiye is hot southern country, people praying in the mosque should have been able to cool off and quench their thirst by drinking water from the fountain).

Blue Mosque in Istanbul, time to visit

Mosque opening hours (entrance is free):

Features of visiting the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

When going to the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, please note: you must take off your shoes here. To make you feel comfortable, there are special containers with disposable bags at the entrance to the mosque; you can put your shoes in them. You must take the package with you. To make it more clear, at the entrance there is an inscription on English language:"Please take off your shoes and put them in a bag."

Another evidence of the care of the Muslims of Istanbul and everyone about their shrine is the issuance of blue capes for visitors in short dresses and visitors in shorts. This service is also free.

In addition, for a thorough acquaintance with Sultanahmet, you can read a special free information brochure prepared especially for travelers at the entrance to the mosque (in several languages, including Russian).

Conclusion

And you can stay overnight next to the Blue Mosque - in Sultanahmet - the historical district of the city, which got its name from the mosque.

I would like to end my short story about the Blue Mosque - the symbol of the eternal city of Istanbul with the same enthusiastic exclamations: “It (the Blue Mosque of Istanbul) is blue!” Blue like depths of the sea, which surround her like a bottomless sky, under which she surprises the world!

Tourists who choose to stay in hotels in the old town in the Sultanahmet area, the first thing they get acquainted with is the square of the same name and the attractions located on it.

So, the next day after our arrival we went to Sultanahmet Square (we lived a 5-minute walk from it), where several of probably the most important cultural, historical and civilizational monuments of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire are located - Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia ), Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) and Topkapi Palace complex (cultural, educational, financial center of the Ottoman Empire until the mid-19th century).

The square itself is located between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, a very pleasant place with a fountain and palm trees, flower beds and lawns, where you can freely sit without fear of being driven away by the police, of whom there are enough in the square and they are decently armed.

Getting acquainted with the location of attractions on the map, we (due to our not very deep knowledge of the culture and art of Turkey and not only) could not understand where the Blue Mosque is and where the Sultanahmet Mosque))), since on two different maps the same the same building, as we later realized, had different names. At the same time, having asked the police, pointing to Sultanahmet, whether this is the Blue Mosque, they answered us that no, this is Sultanahmet, and the Blue Mosque is taaaaam (pointing with their hand somewhere in general). So we went to , first, because it was exactly the place we knew).

Therefore, for those who also understand the sights of Istanbul, like us, here is Sultanahmet Square and Blue Mosque on the map:

I noted the main attractions located near Sultanahmet Square.

A few facts about the Blue Mosque (Istanbul)

For those who, like us earlier, will be in Istanbul for the first time, a short historical reference about the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque):

1) it was built in 1616 opposite the Hagia Sophia as an offering to Allah to ensure the victory of Sultan Ahmed in the war with Austria and Iran;

2) the mosque interrupted the forty-year period of absence of construction of religious buildings;

3) Sultan Ahmed was the 14th ruler of the Ottoman Empire, ascended the throne at the age of 14 and ruled for 14 years;

4) the Sultanahmet Mosque is a complex of buildings, traditionally built together: the mosque itself, a hospital, a madrasah, Primary School, kitchens, bazaar, grave of members of the Sultan's family. It also included an astronomer's room, where scientists calculated right time for prayer and other important events;

5) for construction, the remains of the Great Byzantine Imperial Palace and Hippodrome were destroyed;

6) the dome of the mosque is supported by four columns - they are called “elephant legs” for their diameter of 5 meters. On the top of each of them are written lines from the Koran in gold;

7) a huge carpet in the center of the mosque - handmade;

8) about 21 thousand tiles from Iznik were used in the interior decoration. To provide the mosque with materials, for several years the factory worked only on the Sultan's order;

9) tulips on ceramic tiles have about 50 variations of their image;

10) the mosque can accommodate up to 10 thousand parishioners, each of whom will hear the imam’s sermon.

Throughout Ramadan in Istanbul, we could not get inside the Blue Mosque - the schedule of visits for tourists there had shifted, and it was inconvenient for us to enter it, although we passed by several times a day. However, one evening we simply walked into the courtyard and enjoyed the views of the mosque in the setting sun. Nearby, people sat down on the stairs, took out sandwiches and drinks, and, as soon as the call to prayer sounded, began to eat (for the first time that day).

Blue Mosque at sunset.
The people are preparing to start eating after evening prayer. Sultan's Gate. The chain is stretched so that the Sultan, riding on a horse, bows his head.
Detailed description origin of Islam. One God - many prophets.

Schedule of visits to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

The Sultanahmet Mosque is open to worshipers every day. However, tourists cannot enter it freely, since this is still a place where people come to communicate with God. Therefore, just for a tour, the Blue Mosque is accessible in the morning from 8.30 to 12.15, then in the afternoon from 13.45 to 15.30 and in the evening from 16.30 to 17.15. On Friday, visiting hours start at 14.30.

Seeing the inside of the mosque is completely free. However, a person stands at the exit and quite officially offers to make a charitable contribution for a certain amount. In return, you are given a check confirming your donation.

Blue Mosque in Istanbul - inside the majestic temple

In the end, before leaving, calmly walking around the center, we decided to see what was inside this amazing structure. The entrance to the Blue Mosque for tourists and worshipers is located on different sides of the building (as in the Sultan Suleiman Mosque). Tourists are inspected and released special clothes to our appearance didn't bother anyone. Andrey was wearing shorts and therefore put on a piece of fabric as a skirt, and I got a whole dress with a hood in the form of a scarf.

I won’t say that the interior decoration of the Sultan Akhmet Mosque particularly impressed us. IN Christian tradition, it seems to me that the finishing is much richer. But the beauty of the Blue Mosque lies in its airiness, sophistication, subtlety of patterns, and their diversity. The mosque is filled with light, and its large internal space and volume, architecture still makes you raise your head up and walk around peering into the surrounding interiors.

Those “elephant legs” supporting the dome of the Blue Mosque

By the way, the Sultanahmet Mosque was named Blue because a lot of blue dye was used in the decoration of the tiles, but I would say that the main colors for me inside were pastel beige, pink, cream, but not blue. Some of the Sultan's mausoleums and chambers in Topkapi have a truly blue tone, but not the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. At the same time, Muslims call their main shrine only “Sultanahmet Mosque”; Western tourists call it “blue”.

The dome of the Blue Mosque resembles the pupil and iris.
The most beautiful paintings Closer to the Blue Mosque.

Video about an excursion to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

There is also a small but cozy park on the territory of the mosque. I liked sitting on the steps and looking at people who behave quite freely, unlike in our churches, where everyone is filled with reverence and is afraid to say an extra word.

our planet

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul was built in 1609-1616 during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I. It is considered one of the most outstanding examples of both Islamic and world architecture. The majestic building is located in the historical part of the city near the Hagia Sophia. Used as a working mosque.

Historical reference

The construction of the mosque was preceded by unsuccessful wars, as a result of which the authority of the Ottoman Empire noticeably declined. There was talk in the Muslim world that the wrath of Allah was to blame. Over the past 40 years, not a single mosque was built, and Ahmed I decided to appease the celestial. He decided to erect a majestic structure that would atone for the sins of all Turkish sultans.

Since the wars were unsuccessful, the state treasury was not replenished. Therefore, the Ottoman ruler allocated money for construction work from his own treasury. All organizational and construction activities were carefully recorded, and 6 volumes were obtained. They are currently kept in the Topkapi Palace library.

The building structure was erected on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors. For this purpose, the existing foundation was used. The nearby buildings and spectator areas of the Hippodrome were also destroyed.

Chief Architect construction work became Sedefkar Mehmet. He came from the Janissaries and attracted the attention of the famous architect Sinan. He did a good job young man his student. And the student, having gained experience, decided to surpass the teacher by bringing to life a huge architectural masterpiece.

Description of the Blue Mosque

The length of the structure is 73 meters. The width is 65 meters. The height of the dome reaches 43 meters. The internal diameter of the dome is 23.5 meters. In addition to the main dome, there are 8 secondary domes and 6 minarets. The height of the minaret is 64 meters.

This structure is the culmination of 200 years of Ottoman mosque construction. It includes not only traditional Islamic architecture, but also some elements of Byzantine architecture.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul got its name from the blue and white handmade tiles. They were used in interior decoration. The main dome covers the central hall, whose dimensions are 53 by 51 meters. It is supported by 4 columns with a diameter of 5 meters. All domes are painted with quotes from the Koran. The floor is covered with carpets.

Daylight enters the room through 260 windows. The secondary domes have 14 windows, and the main one has 28, 4 of which are blind. At first, colored glass from Venice was used. But at present, almost all glass has been replaced with modern glass without artistic decoration.

The most important element is the mihrab (prayer niche). It is made of a single piece of marble and is surrounded by many windows. Adjacent walls are lined with ceramic tiles. To the right of the mihrab is the pulpit or minbar. This is the place where the imam reads the midday prayers at noon on Fridays and holidays. At the same time, the acoustics are ideal.

The royal box is located in the southeast corner of the building on the upper gallery. It is supported by ten marble columns and has its own mihrab. Previously, it was decorated with jade and gilding. Many of the lamps inside were once plated with gold and precious stones. All of this jewelry was either stolen or removed and hidden.

In the western part of the prayer complex there is a special entrance, blocked by a chain. Only the Sultan could enter the mosque courtyard through it. The chain was pulled from the ground to such a height that the ruler could pass under it with his head down. This was a symbolic gesture showing that the Sultan was lower than Allah and bowed to him.

The mosque is not a separate building, but an entire architectural complex. It includes a caravanserai, a madrasa, a hospital, and food preparation facilities. In the 19th century, the hospital and caravanserai were destroyed.

There are 6 minarets. For this Muslim world subjected the Sultan to harsh criticism, since only the main mosque of the Kaaba in Mecca had such a number of minarets. Ahmed I solved this problem. He ordered the construction of the 7th minaret in Mecca.

Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque. Each of them has 3 balconies. Two minarets are located at the end of the square and have 2 balconies. There is a mausoleum next to the mosque. It contains the remains of Sultan Ahmed I.

Visit to the Blue Mosque of Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI visited the Main Mosque of Istanbul on November 30, 2006 during a visit to Turkey. This is the second papal visit to the Muslim world in the entire history of Islam. Chapter catholic church He took off his shoes and, closing his eyes, plunged into silent prayer. Next to him stood the mufti of Istanbul and the imam of the mosque.

After this, the pontiff noted that Türkiye is a bridge of friendship between the West and the East. He thanked the Turkish people for their warm welcome and kindness.