Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

Travel Post #28: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior, is in the largest city in Turkey (the capital of the Ottoman Empire). It was built between 1609 and 1916. Similar to other traditional mosques it comprises of a tomb of the founder, a madrasah, and a hospice. *Madrasah: Educational institute* Another notable feature of the Blue Mosque is that the mosque has six minarets, which is significant because most only have two or a maximum of four minarets. Cascading domes and beautifully decorated entrance ways simply take your breath away!

There are two facts that I found interesting about the Blue Mosque: 1: Non-worshippers are required to use the north entrance to preserve the mosque’s sanctity. 2: Hanging from the gate are symbolic chains that encourage everyone (even the sultan) who entered on horseback to how their head upon entering.

Directly across the street from the Blue Mosque, can you find Hagia Sophia. This is after you dodge all of the street vendors clad in their “genie-like” attire. You may be astonished to find out that this structure was once an Orthodox patriarchal basilica then it became a mosque and now a museum in the middle of Istanbul, Turkey.

As a child I grew up learning about Constantinople, but never did I imagine going to this mystical city. (Istanbul) In present time the city possesses the characteristics of two predominate cultures: Byzantium and Ottoman Empires. Hagia Sophia is a culmination of the two cultures under one ornate roof.

Check Out Their Websites: http://www.bluemosque.org/ and http://www.hagiasophia.com/