The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are Istanbul's top tourist attractions and both were under restoration on our visit but still attracted the crowds and worth seeing. Both attractions are partially under scaffolding but still allowed a great view of the details inside and out of the structures.
The mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design. The Mosque was built in early 1600 during the rule of Ahmed I.
Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. First built as a Greek Orthodox church in 537 and the converted into a mosque in 1453 till 1931. It was then converted to the present day museum in 1935. Its rich interior is decorated with mosaics and marble pillars.
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The Blue Mosque |
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Entrance to the mosque |
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One of the six minarets |
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Blue mosaics |
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Mosaics on the dome |
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The interior of the mosque |
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Mosaics |
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Detail on the minaret |
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Hagia Sophia |
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The main dome |
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Chandeliers |
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Detail on the dome |
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Islamic calligraphy |
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Mosaic tile |
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The interior - scaffolding on the left |
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Marble doors |
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The Deësis mosaic |
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Comnenus mosiac |
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Empress Zoe mosaic |
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