The blue mosque is considered the largest and one of the most beautiful mosques of Istanbul. In the mosque with 6 minarets: 4 on the sides and 2 on the outer corners. The blue mosque is the greatest masterpiece of not only Islamic, and world architecture. The mosque is located in the historical centre of the city on the shores of the Marmara sea. Opposite the Blue mosque is the mosque of Hagia Sophia. The blue mosque is one of the symbols of Istanbul.

During the Ottoman Empire Ahmed I led 2 out war with Iran and Austria. The war in Austria ended with the signing Situationsome world (November 11, 1606), which was obliged by the Ottomans to abandon the annual tribute from Austria and to recognize the Imperial title of the Habsburgs. The lesion in the aggregate with other events caused the fall of the authority of Turkey, so Ahmed I decided to appease Allah and to build a mosque. The construction of the mosque was very useful, because for 40 years was not yet build any new mosques. In August 1609, began the construction of a mosque. The sultans, who ruled until Ahmet I, the mosque built at the expense of funds obtained in the wars. Ahmet had to take money from the Treasury. In the library of Topkapi Palace to this day to be stored 6 volumes of descriptions of works on construction of the mosque.

The mosque was decided to be built near the Palace Topkani. Before the construction of the Hippodrome was demolished several buildings renniassance and Byzantine periods. Built the mosque architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga (student of and assistant principal of architect Sinan. The mosque is made in two styles: classic Ottoman and Byzantine. The legend says that according to the orders of the Sultan, the architect had to build 4 gold minaret, but the result was built with 6 minarets. The mosque was built 7 years old, and a year before the death of Sultan (1616) was ready. Materials for construction served as stone and marble. As the scenery used a lot (more than 20000) white and blue ceramic samples handmade, so the mosque was given the name Blue. The size of the Central hall of the mosque h m, the diameter of the dome, which then covers this hall – 23, 5 m, and height – 43 m. Inscriptions adorn the dome and semi-dome. The dome is mounted on four huge columns, the diameter of which is 5 m. Patterns that adorned the mosque depict lilies, tulips, roses and carnations. On a white background made ornaments of different colors. According to the calculations, to perform the ornament is used more than 50 variations of the image of tulips. On the floor of the mosque is lined rugs. In the mosque a lot of light which enters through 260 Windows. During the construction of the mosque were established on glass, imported from Venice, but later these glass replaced.

Striking prayer niche – mihrab is carved from marble. It placed the black stone that was brought from Mecca. Near the mihrab is the Minbar – the place where the Imam reads the sermon. There is the mosque special entrance, located in the Western part of the structure. Over the entrance hangs a chain. The entrance was intended for the Sultan, who rode on a horse into the courtyard of the mosque. When entering the Sultan was forced to bend because the chain was hanging low. This action meant the insignificance of the Sultan before Allah.

Four minarets of the mosque is equipped with three balconies, two mosques – two. Originally built 14 balconies – so much was the Ottoman sultans, including Ahmed I. a Little later there were even finished 2 balconies, due to the fact that the sultans considered and the sons of Ahmed I. Near the mosque is the mausoleum, buried in it, Ahmed I, his wife and sons. In the North-Eastern part of the mosque is the pavilion of the Sultan, today it has a carpet Museum.

After completion of construction of the Blue mosque revealed that the number of minarets, and there were six of them, corresponds to the number of minarets in the mosque Masjid al-Haram, located in Mecca. Consequently, we had to build a seventh minaret. Interesting is the fact that from 1953 to 1976 had the banknote 500 lire, on which was depicted the Blue mosque.

The mosque can accommodate 10,000 people. Today there is a tradition for Muslim pilgrims before leaving for Mecca.