Istanbul

Mosques, subterranean reservoirs and waterside attractions in the cosmopolitan Turkish city

WORDS HANNAH BRANDLER

1 BLUE MOSQUE This Ottoman-era structure is best known by its colloquial colour-themed moniker, owing to the tens of thousands of blue Iznik tiles that adorn its interiors. Officially it is called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, named after ruler Ahmed I, who commissioned the monument as a marker of imperial strength – hence the dramatic curved domes and six minarets stretching to the skyline. The mosque was designed by architect Sedefkar Mehmed Agha and constructed between 1609 and 1617, rivalling the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia located on the opposite side of Sultanahmet Square. This UNESCO World Heritage Site closed for a five-year restoration, reopening in April 2023 to tourists and locals alike. The building remains a working mosque, so take care to wear respectful clothing – women can borrow shawls at the…

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Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Edition (Digital) - 1 Issue, March - April 2024

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