I don’t know much about mosques, but their immense proportions, sweeping arches, majestic domes, towering minarets, intricate tile work, and auras of devotion inspire awe and quiet contemplation.
The major mosques we visited in Istanbul permitted visitor access between the five prayer times, when the Islamic call to prayer echoes eerily over the rooftops. Before entering, we had to remove our shoes, which either could be left at the entrance or carried in plastic bags provided by the mosque.
Women are required to cover their hair and shoulders; men are asked to wear long pants instead of shorts and also to use shirtsleeves. Disposable shawls or capes are provided for those who don’t have adequate items of clothing with them. Visitors are asked to maintain silence inside the sanctuaries.
Inside the New Mosque, Istanbul
Tile work at the New Mosque
The Blue Mosque exterior
Domes of the Blue Mosque, Istanbul
The Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), once a church, it was converted into a mosque and is now a museum. View from a distant rooftop terrace.