Ahmet wanted this mosque to be at the forefront of art as well as architecture, and able to compete with two important giants: Süleymaniye and Hagia Sophia, so he employed architect Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, to build the Blue Mosque, where art and vitality can be seen at every point.

The building, which was completed as a complex between 1590 and 1617, consists of a mosque, sultan's pavilion (today it is used as the Foundations Carpet Museum), sibyan school, madrasah, arasta, hospital, imaret (today used as Marmara University rectorate building), guest house and tombs. Of course, the most eye-catching and important part of the complex is the mosque.

The mosque has six minarets, two on the front and four on the four corners. Four of the minarets have three balconies and two have two balconies, symbolizing that Ahmet I is the 16th sultan.
Whichever door you use to go into the mosque, you are greeted by a tiled, ornate, colorful landscape thanks to the 21,000 Iznik tiles inside. On all the walls, there are tile panels in blue, green, turquoise, and red, mainly made with plant motifs. The colors of these tiles are enhanced by the light from the windows as mentioned above.

The reason why this mosque was named as such by foreigners is that the inside appears to be blue. The locals call this mosque the Sultanahmet

When you go into the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, women must cover their heads and wear suitable clothes. If necessary you can buy a shawl at the entrance.

When you get there, you must visit these places too.
Topkapi Palace – The place where the heart of the Ottoman Empire beat
Basilica Cistern – Don't miss this place!
Hagia Sophia – One of the most impressive structures in the world,
Grand Bazaar – What to buy, where to buy, what to see, and information about its history.