Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque, which is one of the most visited touristic sites in the city and Turkey will soon be going under a series of renovations, which is expected to take place over the course of three and a half years, and will be the most extensive of its kind since the construction of the mosque, the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Foundations announced on Sunday.
General Director of the institution Adnan Ertem said that the preparation for the restoration of the 17th century Ottoman-era mosque has been completed, and that work in the mosque is expected to start in the spring of 2017.
Ertem noted that the foundations directorate has completed numerous renovation projects throughout the city and the restoration of the Blue Mosque will be their final one in Istanbul. He noted that the mosque went under renovation around 30 years ago, but the necessary underground work had not been made back then.The foundation of the building was susceptible to moisture due to the higher-than-normal underground water resources in the vicinity, he noted.
"We took x-rays of the ground beneath the mosque and realized that there are some issues with the discharge of underground water" Ertem said, and added that the restoration work will focus on resolving the issue.
Ertem also noted that instead of focusing on specific areas, the renovation project aims to provide a comprehensive solution.
The freestone within and outside the mosque, as well as the marble coating will be fixed, while the tiles and pillars will be restored.
The project will include the replacement of the outer lead cover on the mosque dome, the strengthening of the outer marble overlays and the refurbishment of the drainage system. All minarets will undergo restoration, while conservation work will include all ceramic tiles in the building.
The courtyard and toilets will also be renovated under the scope of the project, Ertem added.
Ertem said many tiles and even whole sections of Quranic inscriptions on the wall had been stolen over the years. "In the past, nothing was done to replace the stolen tiles. We now have the authority to replace the missing tiles with reproductions. We will use tiles produced in the same style used for the originals."
The mosque will not be shut down to worship or visitors during the project, he said. "We used special material that isolates sound from the work. During the Yeni Mosque restoration, worshipers could pray at the floor while the restoration continued at the upper levels.
The world famous Sultanahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque for its intricate ceramic tiles that grace its interior walls, will get its most detailed and comprehensive renovation in its 400-year existence.
One of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman classical architecture, the mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I and was opened to worship in 1616. It is the only six-minaret mosque built by the Ottomans and one of the most famed buildings in Istanbul.
Its architect, Sedefkar Mehmet Agha, built it right across the Hagia Sofia, recognized as the best example of Byzantine architecture. The ceramic tiles inside were produced by the artisans in İznik, who are still famed for the intricate decorations displayed on the tiles. More than 20,000 tiles decorate the interior of the mosque. Hagia Sofia, built as a cathedral, was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottomans. It was later turned into a museum after the founding of the Republic.
Sultanahmet Mosque, together with the Hagia Sofia and the Topkapı Palace, provide one of the most amazing urban silhouettes in the world.