Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is Istanbul's most iconic religious landmark, a masterpiece of Ottoman imperial architecture completed in 1616. Its six minarets and cascade of domes dominate the skyline of the old city, while the interior is lined with over 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles in blue and white that give the mosque its nickname. Unlike most mosques, it remains open to respectful visitors between prayer times.

• Categoryattraction