The Blue Mosque in Istanbul reopened to visitors
Istanbul's Sultanahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, is once again welcoming visitors and worshipers after five years of restoration work. The opening ceremony, which was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took place on Friday. On the same day, the first service after a long break was held here, TRT channel reports.
The restorers dismantled and rebuilt three minarets built in the 17th century. The electrical wiring was completely replaced, the stones were cleaned, and the stained-glass windows were processed. The experts also assessed the seismic stability of the building.
The Blue Mosque is a historical landmark of the Ottoman era, which was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I. The interior walls of the structure are decorated with hand-painted blue tiles. At night, when the lights frame the five main and eight minor domes and six minarets, the mosque is filled with beautiful blue light.
In 1985, the Blue Mosque was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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