Inside the Blue Mosque

Here are some pictures of Istanbul's most spectacular mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles inside.

It was built between 1606 and 1611, with a combination of Byzantine and traditional Islamic elements. The inside is lined with more than 20,000 hand-made ceramic tiles, using traditional designs at the lower levels, and at gallery level using more flamboyant designs of flowers, fruit and cypresses.

There are low chandeliers which hang all the way from the ceiling, giving quite an intimate feel despite the huge space.