Turkey Istanbul Blue Mosque Postcard

Istanbul, straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, is Turkey’s largest city and a historical crossroads of cultures, empires, and religions. Once known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, the city has been a capital for both the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, leaving a rich architectural and cultural legacy. Its skyline is marked by domes, minarets, and palaces, and the city’s bustling markets, such as the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, showcase its vibrant trade traditions. Visitors can explore historic neighborhoods like Sultanahmet, Galata, and Beyoğlu, each offering a mix of Ottoman-era mosques, Byzantine churches, and modern cafés. At the heart of Sultanahmet lies the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks. Built in the early 17th century, it is renowned for its six minarets, large central dome, and interior adorned with over 20,000 hand-painted blue İznik tiles, giving it its famous name. The mosque remains an active place of worship, but it is also open to visitors outside prayer times, who come to admire its grandeur, stained-glass windows, and harmonious architecture. Positioned near the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque is a centerpiece of Istanbul’s historic peninsula and a symbol of the city’s Ottoman heritage.