
Located in the old historic section of Istanbul, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has attracted many tourists over the years since it was built in 1616. It has 5 domes surrounding the main one and eight others cascading downward as well as six minarets. The design is a culmination of Ottoman mosque design although it also incorporates some elements from the nearby Christian Hagia Sofia. The name comes from the blue tiles that adorn the huge interior walls. I shot this from the balcony of the hotel just across the street late in the afternoon just as heavy overcast clouds moved over the Bosphorus Strait behind.