Istanbul is famous for its Mosques and Ottoman architecture. As the capital of the Ottoman Empire since 1453 and the largest city in Turkey, Istanbul is home to over 3000 mosques. This makes it overwhelming to decide which ones to visit, but here are 4 of the most important mosques to see based on their architectural character and historical context.
The Blue Mosque was built in the 17th century by Sultan Ahmet I. Blue name came from its beautiful blue tiles interior. It is the only mosque with six minarets. The Blue Mosque is one most popular tourist sights in Istanbul.
Suleymaniye Mosque was built in honor of the magnificent Sultan Suleyman by the famous architect Sinan between the year 1550-1557. The decoration of the mosque is outstanding with colored tiles, stained glass windows and antique columns.
Eyup Mosque is located over the tomb of Eyup, the bearer of the Prophet Mohammed, who died during the siege of Istanbul in the year of 670. There is also a beautiful cemetery and tourist facilities by the mosque.
The Fatih Mosque is named after the Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the conqueror of Istanbul and was built in 1463, 10 years after the Sultan's conquest of Istanbul. It is a mosque of monumental proportions with its dependencies that include a hospice, medrese, hospital, caravanserai, library and baths.
