Blue Mosque

Facing Hagia Sophia or St. Sophia Museum , the Blue Mosque of Istanbul is most famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique 6 minarets, setting it apart from all other landmarks in Istanbul .

Perched on a hill overlooking the Sea of Marmara , its magnificent features highlighted by a series of domes bring visitors' eyes towards the heavens attracting them to explore the beauty of the city. Also known as the courtyard of Sultan Ahmet Camii, the infamous Blue Mosque was said to be built by some of the stone masons who helped construct India 's Taj Mahal.

What's so blue about the Blue Mosque? The interior's high ceiling is lined with about 20,000 blue tiles th at give the mosque its popular name. This would be difficult to see unless you haven't been inside the upper level of the museum. Sunlight clearly passes through the beautiful Mosque with its 250 windows made from 17 th century Venetian stained glass.

The mosque also shows intricate 16 th -century Iznik design, with the tiles full of flowers, trees and abstract patterns.

Just like in any other mosques, visitors are required to remove their shoes at the entrance, and women must cover their heads. There is no entrance fee, but is usually closed during the worship time of Muslims throughout the day.