Hagia Sophia

The magnificent Hagia Sophia was built at the behest of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian in 537 BC and was then known as the Church of Holy Wisdom. Hagia Sophia is a remarkable testament to the ingenuity of Eastern Roman architects, built to a unique design for the time. A new chapter in its history began when Mehmed II had it converted into a mosque and painted over the golden mosaics and frescoes with Islamic motifs and patterns. Some of them have since been uncovered again and have survived for centuries under layers of plaster. The emperor also added massive panes of beautifully crafted calligraphy. 

At the turn of the 20th Century, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum at the behest of Ataturk in 1935 and remained so for many years. Hagia Sophia's status as a place of worship returned in 2020.

Hagia Sophia is a veritable smorgasbord of curved domes, a wonder of infused natural light that cascades across the restored golden mosaics and incongruous minarets added over its long life. The sublime interior is a series of domes and vaults, centred on the shell-like apse and massive dome that seems to float freely, giving this architectural gem its amazing sense of space.

As one of İstanbul’s most famous and iconic landmarks, Hagia Sophia is an ode to the Eastern Roman and Ottoman taste for art and architecture.

More information about the Hagia Sophia: https://istanbul.goturkiye.com/hagia-sophia