The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, is also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque after the Sultan Ahmet who built it in the early 17th century when he was only 19 years old.
Construction of the Blue Mosque began in 1609 and took seven years to complete.
The mosque, along with Hagia Sophia, (originally a Christian church built by Justinian I in the 6th century),
dominates the skyline and much of the main tourist area of Istanbul. Both are architectural marvels.

The Blue Mosque has six minarets, which indicate its importance as a "royal mosque" built for a Sultan.
Both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, near the site of the ancient Hippodrome,
are part of a complex of historical sites which also includes Constantine's imperial palace
whose mosaics can be seen in the nearby Mosaic Museum where they are still in situ.
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