Also known as the Blue Mosque because of its lavish interior decoration with mosaics
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:32 am
Beyond its culture and cuisine, the city's unique feature is its straddling of two continents: Europe and Asia. Each region is easily accessible by boat or car, as the city sits on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait.
It was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire until 1923, whose sultan was recognized for centuries as the caliph, that is, the supreme leader of all Muslims, which made the city one of the most important in all of Islam.
The city, known as Constantinople until 153, has a predominantly telegram data Muslim population. It was renamed Istanbul in 1930, during the Ottoman period. Today, Istanbul is the main hub for industry, commerce, culture, and academia.
Istanbul
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Visit the Blue Mosque
Stained glass of the same color, the monument was built between 1609 and 1616. Located right in the center of Istanbul, it faces Hagia Sophia , separated only by a huge, flower-filled square of the same name, Sultanahmet Square. Interestingly, this mosque has six minarets and is 43 meters tall. This caused controversy at the time of construction, as only Mecca had six minarets at the time. Therefore, the Blue Mosque seemed an affront. The solution was to build a seventh minaret in Mecca.
To enter the mosque, you must remove your shoes. Additionally, T-shirts, shorts, and miniskirts are prohibited. Women, on the other hand, must cover their heads. For unwary tourists, headscarves, leg scarves, and shoulder scarves are available for loan.
It was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire until 1923, whose sultan was recognized for centuries as the caliph, that is, the supreme leader of all Muslims, which made the city one of the most important in all of Islam.
The city, known as Constantinople until 153, has a predominantly telegram data Muslim population. It was renamed Istanbul in 1930, during the Ottoman period. Today, Istanbul is the main hub for industry, commerce, culture, and academia.
Istanbul
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Visit the Blue Mosque
Stained glass of the same color, the monument was built between 1609 and 1616. Located right in the center of Istanbul, it faces Hagia Sophia , separated only by a huge, flower-filled square of the same name, Sultanahmet Square. Interestingly, this mosque has six minarets and is 43 meters tall. This caused controversy at the time of construction, as only Mecca had six minarets at the time. Therefore, the Blue Mosque seemed an affront. The solution was to build a seventh minaret in Mecca.
To enter the mosque, you must remove your shoes. Additionally, T-shirts, shorts, and miniskirts are prohibited. Women, on the other hand, must cover their heads. For unwary tourists, headscarves, leg scarves, and shoulder scarves are available for loan.