Known as the 'Sultan Ahmet
Mosque'
by local people, it
was built by Sultan Ahmet in 1609 and completed in 7 years,
although foreigners have taken to calling it the '
Blue Mosque ' because of the beautiful
blue Iznik tiles decorating the interior.
The architect
who oversaw its design was Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, better known as a student
of Sinan (the greatest architect ever seen in the Ottoman Empire). Not
only was it built to serve as a mosque, but its huge surrounding complex
also held a medrese (theological school), turbe (tomb), hospital, caravaserai,
primary school, public kitchen and market, although the hospital and
caravanserai were destroyed in the nineteenth century. After the public
kitchens were destroyed in a fire in 1970, they were restored and incorporated
into the School of Industrial Art. It presently serves as the Dean's
Office for the Marmara University.