BLUE MOSQUE (MASJED-E KABUD)

As its name indicates, and to the image of its namesake of Istanbul, this mosque is… blue. Damaged by the earthquake of 1727, it is the most significant monument of the city. An architectural masterpiece of the th century (timurid period), it is famous throughout the oriental world for the splendour and quality of its decor in enamelled ceramics. When they began construction in 1465, the architects broke with the use of the brick and covered the ceramic tile building. Take care of the splendid entrance portal to the mosaics of exceptional quality, among the most beautiful in Iran. Note the finesse of the motives and the declination of the blues and colours rarely found in Islamic art: olive green, red brown, yellow or ochre yellow. Superb decoration with its medallions, its intractable rises and its long flower arabesques and inscriptions on nested lines. Letters abandon broken lines of coufiques characters for cursifs characters with beautiful curves. Contributions of Chinese origin will renew the decorative repertoire of Persian art. Carnations and peonies as well as the large birds such as the peacock or the phoenix perched in the fish, the tree of longevity of Buddha, testify to these influences. Also note the vaults and the large arches, characteristics of timurid art, and the two minarets erected at the ends. Once inside, admire the imposing vault. The restoration work undertaken helped restore some unity to the whole. At the bottom of the building, the mausoleum of the King Betsiamites Shah is generally accessible to the public.