Comments can be written but are only visible after I have checked them: these pages are not forums for political debate - nor to just let the world know you exist!
Yorum yazabilirsiniz ama yorumlarınızı ben kontrol ettikten sonra sitede görebilirsiniz. Bu sayfalar politik tartışmalar ya da dünyaya hayatta olduğunuzu duyurmak için hazırlanmış forumlar değil!
The Sultan Ahmet or Blue Mosque (in a region now called Sultanahmet) was constructed for Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616. The sultan died a year after its completion, 27 years old. This mosque is probably the one most tourists will remember, because this is where most tours and guides will take them. I think there are better mosques in town, and in particular dont like the crowds. But the building has some good spots and I try to show them in a good light. The ground plan is more square than the other mosques that were inspired by the Haghi Sophia. Most designs would have two semidomes to the east and west of the central dome. Here, however, domes to the north and south side have been added. The Strolling through Istanbul authors were not much impressed by the effect, and neither am I. Though I do recall sitting in the huge space in the early 70s when I first visited it and being taking by the enormous space. I would often come in the early evening and be alone. You should try that nowadays. To illustrate the latter point I added pictures taken during a June 2009 visit, showing the mosque but also the fair-like activities at its fringe.
I may add some captions in days to come. For the time being the pictures should explain themselves. I also will trace some pictures that are here and there in several other galleries I made, and copy them here. It may take a while.