The most famous example of Byzantine architecture in the world, Hagia Sophia is located in Sultanahmet Square, across from Blue Mosque (about 5 minutes away on foot). It is one of the most important sights in Istanbul along with Topkapi Palace and certainly one of the top historic sights of Turkey.
The building named Hagia Sophia which means holy wisdom was built as a church on the order of the Byzantine emperor Konstantios as a show of the grandeur of the empire. It was completed in 5 years. It is the oldest and fastest completed cathedral in the world.
After Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, Fatih Sultan Mehmet converted this church into a mosque. It was restored three times. In 1935, at the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it was converted into a museum.
In 2020, Hagia Sophia was converted back into a mosque by Turkish government decree. It remains open to visitors (free entry) outside of prayer times. The Christian mosaics remain visible, covered with curtains during prayers. The UNESCO World Heritage status remains, and restoration work continues.
This huge building perfectly reflects a combination of Byzantine and Ottoman cultures.
Hagia Sophia is most famous for its huge dome which stands at 182 feet high and is 102 feet wide. The building was an engineering marvel at the time. Thanks to its resilient structure, it has survived many earthquakes including a devastating one in the 16th century. In addition, the mosaics of Hagia Sophia depicting the most important figures of the Christian faith have great significance, along with Chora Museum. Huge amounts of gold were used in the construction of these mosaics. The building also houses the longest Ottoman calligraphy art.
You can see the holy relics exhibition, I. Mahmut library, gravestones, and mosaics inside the building. Outside, there are mausoleums, Fatih madrasah, an almshouse, and minarets of the mosque. In addition, some other exhibitions — for example, Mevlana exhibitions or photographs of Mimar Sinan's monuments and conferences — are presented on the Hagia Sophia grounds.
This amazing building, which was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, is truly worth seeing!
Status: Functioning mosque. Open to visitors outside of prayer times. Entry is free. Visitors use a separate entrance from worshippers.
Hours: Open daily from morning until evening prayer. Closed during prayer times (approximately 20-30 minutes, five times daily). Check prayer times before visiting.
Dress code: Women must cover their heads (scarves available at entrance), shoulders, and knees. Men must wear long trousers. Shoes must be removed before entering.
Admission: Free (as a mosque, no entrance fee). Donations welcome.