Beautiful Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque (the Sultan Ahmet Mosque) was one of my favorite spots on this trip, and certainly the most beautiful. It was built in the early 1600s, and for size and splendor, it has no equal. This is the entrance to the courtyard. We heard the muezzin calling to prayer from this minaret each evening.
The interior is a large open space, with this huge domed roof held up by four immense pillars. Even though we were surrounded by tourists, I had a feeling of spaciousness and tranquility, helped by the fact that conversation and shoes were not permitted in this house of prayer.
Only men were allowed to pray here - women had a separate area. The interior was completely covered with tiles - absolutely stunning! This is a close-up photo of some of the gorgeous tiles.