The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is called the “Blue” Mosque because of beautiful blue ceramic ties on the walls. It may be noted that there are at least 6 other mosques known as “The Blue Mosque”. But this is an amazing building. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. He appointed his royal architect Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, a pupil and senior assistant of the famous architect Mimar Sinan to be in charge of the construction. The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at Iznik (the ancient Nicaea) in more than fifty different tulip designs. We’ll be making another visit here as part of our Islamic Art tour. But for now…

And now our first visits to beautiful buildings in Istanbul.

First, the Şehzade Mosque.  According to my friend wikipedia:

The Şehzade Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Suleiman I in memory of his eldest son, Prince Mehmet, who died of smallpox at the age of 21 in 1543, though the cause for his death is disputed. It was the first major commission by the Imperial Architect Mimar Sinan, and was completed in 1548. It is considered by architectural historians as Sinan’s first masterpiece of classical Ottoman architecture.

Then back on the bus, passing under a 4th century Roman aqueduct (Constantinople was the sat of the Eastern Roman Empire pre-Ottoman-control…). Encountering some rain as we approach the “Blue” Mosque.

Our first trip into Istanbul.

Istanbul is a huge city, with a leg in Europe and a leg in Asia and a narrow strait called the Bosphorous in between. We will ride a tour bus and circle the European side. North, cross above the Golden Horn, follow the land-side defensive walls, and return along the Sea of Marmara to the center of the old city.

We will visit two mosques, and the former-church-former-mosque-now-museum, Hagia Sophia. Our impression is that the economy is doing better here. Lots of well tended gardens in public spaces. Lots of greenery. Well maintained monuments. Families out picnicking. Lots of construction going on. Clean streets. Newish cars.

So here’s a quick bus ride around the European side of Istanbul.