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___ Famous Landmarks: Satellite View of Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) and Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)

 
Silhouette of Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet Mosque, Istanbul
Silhouette of Hagia Sophia (right) and Sultanahmet Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey.
 

About Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque


Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia Istanbul, TurkeyHagia Sophia Istanbul
Image: Arild Vågen


Hagia Sophia, the former patriarchal basilica was originally constructed between A.D. 532 and 537 on the orders of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian, and was in fact the third Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) to occupy the site.

At that time it was the largest cathedral in the Christian world and it became the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years.

In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into the Ayasofya Mosque, The Islamic features - such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets outside - were added. It remained as a mosque until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by the Republic of Turkey.


Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Sultan Ahmed Mosque Istanbul, TurkeySultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul
Image: Moonik



 
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul. The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

Construction of the mosque with six minarets began in 1609 and was completed in 1616. It stands on a promontory between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara close to Hagia Sophia in the center of historic Istanbul.

The building of the mosque is attributed to Ahmed I, the 6th Caliph of the Ottoman Caliphate and 14th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, he was just 13 years old when he became Sultan in 1603. Ahmed I died reportedly on typhus, one year after the completion of the Blue Mosque, in 1617 at Topkapı Palace, he is buried in a mausoleum right outside the walls of the mosque.


 
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Google Map: Searchable map and satellite view of Hagia Sophia
and Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul.


Google Earth Explore 3D model of the Hagia Sophia in Google Earth
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eventually uncheck the Terrain layer.)

 
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previous landmark: Chichén Itzá, Yucatan, Mexico next landmark: Temple Mount, the Noble Sanctuary, Jerusalem
 
More about Turkey:

Landmarks:
Mount Ararat
Satellite view and information about Mount Ararat, highest mountain in Turkey.

Cities:
Searchable map/satellite view of Ankara
Searchable map/satellite view of Istanbul

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Political Map of Turkey
Turkey Country Profile

Continents:
Map of Central and Eastern Europe
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Map of Western Asia
Map of Asia


 
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External Links:
UNESCO World Heritage: Historic Areas of Istanbul
The Historic Areas of Istanbul entry at UNESCO World Heritage center.

Wikipedia: Hagia Sophia
Wikipedia article about Hagia Sophia.

Wikipedia: Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Wikipedia article about Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

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Related Consumer Information:

Countries and Territories of Asia

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