Hagia Sophia - Istanbul, Turkey. View of the Hagia Sophia from the south.
The huge dome is supported by four giant pillars in the corners, along with the outcrop supports seen here. The four minarets signify the building's… Photo © David Bjorgen. View all images in our Hagia Sophia Photo Gallery. Hagia Sophia at dusk. Photo © Helen Betts. This engraving of the Hagia Sophia was made in 1852 by the Fossati brothers, Swiss architects who carried out a major restoration of the mosque's interior. A closeup view of Hagia Sophia's magnificent dome, which rises 184 feet (56m) in height (about 15 stories) and spans a width of approximately 102 feet (31m).
Interior view of the Hagia Sophia's nave looking north across the east end, with the apse windows seen on the right. Photo © Helen Betts. Photo © Dick Osseman. Close view of the intricately carved columns of the tympanum (side walls). An artistic meeting of Christianity and Islam in the Hagia Sophia. Photo © HolyLandPhotos. Deesis Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, c. 1118. History Map. Yeni Camii (New Mosque) - Istanbul, Turkey. The New Mosque (Yeni Camii) in Istanbul is not that new - it was built in the 1600s.
Located on the water's edge next to the Galata Bridge, the Yeni Camii has become a defining feature of Istanbul's skyline. History Begun by Valide Safiye, mother of Sultan Mehmet III, in 1597, the mosque was designed by the architect Da'ud Aga, a pupil of Sinan. The chosen site was then a poor neighborhood; the inhabitants were paid to move out. Construction initially dragged on for several decades due to water seeping and funding problems, then stopped completely when the sultan died - Safiye was no longer the Queen Mother so she no longer had the revenues or power to support the project. The mosque was completed by another queen mother, Valide Sultan Turhan Hattice, mother of Mehmet IV (1642-93). What to See The New Mosque overlooks the harbor next to the Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn. The interior is decorated with Iznik tile, gold and marble. Quick Facts on Yeni Camii Map of Yeni Camii Map Data Map. Blue Mosque - Istanbul, Turkey. The cascading domes and six slender minarets of the Sultanahmet Mosque (better known as the "Blue Mosque") dominate the skyline of Istanbul.
In the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet I wished to build an Islamic place of worship that would be even better than the Hagia Sophia, and the mosque named for him is the result. The two great architectural achievements now stand next to each other in Istanbul's main square, and it is up to visitors to decide which is more impressive. History The Blue Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I when he was only 19 years old. It was built near the Hagia Sophia, over the site of the ancient hippodrome and Byzantine imperial palace (whose mosaics can be seen in the nearby Mosaic Museum). The mosque was designed by architect Mehmet Aga, whose unfortunate predecessor was found wanting and executed.
The original mosque complex included a madrasa, a hospital, a han, a primary school, a market, an imaret and the tomb of the founder. What to See Festivals and Events.