Dirt Cheap Istanbul

The nice thing about the Sultanahmet district is that one can find all the Sightseeing spots in one place. So after you are finished with the Blue Mosque just ask your way through to the Basilica Cistern, which is also worth a visit. The Hippodrome with the two obelisks and the Serpent Column are also just around the corner.
But first things first: the Blue Mosque – or Sultanahmet Mosque how the Turks call it – is one of the only mosques in the world with six minarets, reminding us of the big mosque in Mekka. It was completed in 1616 by Mehmed Tahir Aga, one of the pupils of the great Sinan.
In 1932, nine years after the foundation of the Turkish Republic and after the Turkish language underwent some profound changes, it was in the Sultanahmet Mosque that the Koran was recited in Turkish for the very first time. This caused some outrage in the Orthodox Muslim community as the Koran is considered to be untranslatable.

The mosque is still in use so you will find the doors closed several times during the day, especially during the big Friday prayers. Take off your shoes before entering (you are provided with plastic bags) and take some time sitting on the floor, allowing the surroundings to sink in. If you can plan your trip around the Bayram-Holidays you will find lots of little shops in the court of the mosque and around it, as many people throughout Turkey also use this holiday for a trip to Istanbul.

Why Should I Go
The Blue Mosque amongst other things was build to demonstrate the architectural skills of the Ottoman Empire, not accidentally being located opposite to then already world famous Hagia Sophia. Go and see for yourself who did the better job.

Where
Sultanahmet Square, Tram (T1) or Bus (210) to Sultanahmet

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