Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Tourists must enter via the north gate

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Symbolic chains requiring even the Sultan to bow his head as he enters the compound

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Built between 1609 - 1616 at the direction of Sultan Ahmed I

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

The blue tiles on the internal walls was reason for its name

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Sultan Ahmed I wanted the Blue Mosque to rival Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Cupola of the Blue Mosque

Inside the Blue Mosque,...

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Blue Mosque - Istanbul -...

Some of the colorful 20,000 tiles that line the interior walls