Hello friends, 

Today I will talk about two amazing mosques I visited in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque and the Yeni Cami.

The **Blue Mosque** was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I. It is also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Camii). It was named blue because of the magnificent hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the mosque’s interior, and the fact that the mosque is bathed in blue lights at night. The mosque has five main domes, eight secondary domes, and  six minarets (1).

<center> http://i.imgur.com/5r8ehyz.jpg </center>

<center> The Blue Mosque </center>

When entering the mosque, you have to be properly attired, and wear no shoes. You leave your shoes outside in bags. I noticed people washing their feet in some fountains outside the main building. 

<center> http://i.imgur.com/BAM0nO2.jpg </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/IJaLPgr.jpg </center>

<center> Inside the Blue Mosque </center>

It  was a cold, rainy day when I visited. Not a lot of sun around, but you could still see the light filtering through the beautiful stained glass windows of the mosque.

<center> http://i.imgur.com/h7qRl8i.jpg </center>

<center> Stained glass windows </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/09tCV21.jpg </center>

<center> A beautiful dome </center>

The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems.  Among the glass bowls one could find ostrich eggs and crystal balls. All these decorations have now been removed or transferred to museums.

<center> http://i.imgur.com/t2Pte5F.jpg </center>

In the old times, a muezzin (prayer caller) would climb a narrow spiral staircase in the minarets five times a day to call people to pray. Today, a public announcement system is being used at the mosque. The call  of the muezzin to the people of Istanbul can be clearly heard across the old part of the city. Large crowds of both Turks and tourists gather at sunset in the park in front of the mosque to hear the  evening prayers, and see the mosque illuminated by colored floodlights.

The second mosque I visited was  the **Yeni Cami**. The Yeni Cami (New Mosque) was originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque, as it was ordered by Sultana Safiye, the Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) of Sultan Mehmed III. It is one of the famous architectural landmarks of Istanbul (2).

<center> http://i.imgur.com/04sIVLU.jpg </center>

<center> The Yeni Cami  </center>

Normally a mosque is closed to non worshipers for a half hour or so during the five daily prayers. I somehow managed to get in and watch the locals pray. They would wash in the fountain outside, and then come in and kneel on the carpet praying.

<center> http://i.imgur.com/6ul25l4.jpg </center>

<center> People washing before entering </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/2gVFKRt.jpg </center>

<center> People kneeling and praying </center>

The Yeni Cami is admittedly not as grand as the Blue Mosque, but it is nevertheless a beautiful mosque. One can see some stunning stained glass windows and painted domes here too.

<center> http://i.imgur.com/XnVafc6.jpg </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/NHDqbC4.jpg </center>

<center> A beautiful dome  </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/SvBltwW.jpg </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/WU2cTd5.jpg </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/mABh5R1.jpg </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/lNIEf3Q.jpg </center>

It also has the advantage of being closer to to the water, therefore always visible when traveling by boat in the strait of Bosphorus.

I will close this post with some stunning pictures of the mosques I found on the internet. I hope you liked my post, and that you will follow me to the next one. Have a good day, and speak to you soon!

<center> https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB16IVVLFXXXXb5XVXXq6xXFXXXq/Giclee-Canvas-Prints-Stretched-Framed-Fine-Art-Artwork-For-Wall-Decor-Halic-Artwork-font-b-Turkey.jpg </center>

<center> Yeni Cami in the foreground with Blue Mosque in the background from ae01.alicdn.com  </center>

<center> http://i.imgur.com/XVzyCru.jpg </center>

<center> Image of Yeni Cami from 3.bp.blogspot.com  </center>

References
1.Text from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque.
2.Text from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mosque_(Istanbul).