Exterior Detail

View looking east at the dome of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.  Note the six(!) minarets—there was quite a fuss when the mosque was completed for it had as many minarets as the main mosque in Mecca at that time (1616 C.E.)—today, the Saudi mosque has nine minarets!

The main dome and the four half domes and the numerous smaller domes are clearly visible.  The water beyond the mosque is the Bosporus Strait and beyond that the shore line of Asia!

The architectural technique is based upon principles used in the Hagia Sophia.  The architect of this mosque was Mehmet Aga, a student of the famous Sinan.

For a brief description of the mosque Click Here .