The Blue Mosque of Istanbul
When I learned that we would be stopping in Istanbul on our cruise, the Blue Mosque went to the top of the "must see" list. I had seen photos of it in travel magazines and said if I'm ever in Istanbul the Blue Mosque would meet my Nikon. My wife and I opted for a guided tour in this city because we only had one day to see everything and the Blue Mosque was on the itintery.
The Blue Mosque was commissioned by the Sultan Alimet I and built in 1609-1616. The mosque has 6 minamets rivaling the architecture of the Mecca mosque. It gets its name from the blue Iznik tilework decorating its interior. It is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world.
Along the exterior north wall are water faucets for "washing of feet". The Muslim's ritual ablutions conclude with the washing of the feet. (see photo).
The Blue Mosque and the older Haghia Sophia, which used to be a Christian church and then a mosque and now a museum, stand out over the city of Istanbul and can be seen for miles.
Read MoreThe Blue Mosque was commissioned by the Sultan Alimet I and built in 1609-1616. The mosque has 6 minamets rivaling the architecture of the Mecca mosque. It gets its name from the blue Iznik tilework decorating its interior. It is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world.
Along the exterior north wall are water faucets for "washing of feet". The Muslim's ritual ablutions conclude with the washing of the feet. (see photo).
The Blue Mosque and the older Haghia Sophia, which used to be a Christian church and then a mosque and now a museum, stand out over the city of Istanbul and can be seen for miles.
