Blue Mosque, Turkey.

The third major attraction in Istanbul, Turkey, is the Blue Mosque. The mosque is located across the street from the famous Hagia Sophia. Built in 1609, the mosque is named after the more than 20,000 blue-green Iznik tiles that adorn its walls and dome. It is the most luxurious mosque built during the Ottoman Empire. From the outside, the mosque doesn't appear blue, as the color is not obvious in the strong sunlight. The mosque is one of Istanbul's most important landmarks, with an Arabic-style dome and six minarets. The guide explained that the minarets were used to call people to prayer, and the more minarets a mosque has, the higher its status. Muslims are required to pray five times a day, and if they miss a prayer, they must make it up later. On the side of the mosque, there is a long corridor with many faucets for ablution before prayer. Visitors can visit the mosque outside of prayer times, but must remove their shoes before entering. The mosque is solemn and majestic, with a unique design that has withstood several major earthquakes over the past 400 years.