Photos of Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey - history and architecture
Hagia Sophia, or Aya Sofya, is located in the Sultanahmet quarter on the historic peninsula of Istanbul. The building stands between Hippodrome Square and Topkapi Palace, next to the Blue Mosque, making it convenient to include in a walk through the old city.
The present structure was erected in 532-537 by order of Emperor Justinian I by the architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus after the previous church was destroyed during the Nika revolt. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the church was converted into a mosque, functioned as a museum from 1935 to 2020, and since July 2020 has again served as a mosque.
The main dome, about 31 m in diameter, rises to a height of roughly 55.6 m. It rests on pendentives and a system of semi-domes, while stability is ensured by powerful buttresses. Columns and facing marbles were brought from various provinces of the Empire. Four Ottoman minarets and later reinforcements shape the current silhouette.
The building has repeatedly survived earthquakes and fires and was reinforced many times, including in the Ottoman era, when Sinan worked on strengthening the structures. Inside, Byzantine mosaics are combined with Ottoman elements - the mihrab, minbar, and large 19th-century calligraphic medallions. Hagia Sophia is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985.
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Hagia Sophia, or Aya Sofya, is located in the Sultanahmet quarter on the historic peninsula of Istanbul. The building stands between Hippodrome Square and Topkapi Palace, next to the Blue Mosque, making it convenient to include in a walk through the old city.
The present structure was erected in 532-537 by order of Emperor Justinian I by the architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus after the previous church was destroyed during the Nika revolt. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the church was converted into a mosque, functioned as a museum from 1935 to 2020, and since July 2020 has again served as a mosque.
The main dome, about 31 m in diameter, rises to a height of roughly 55.6 m. It rests on pendentives and a system of semi-domes, while stability is ensured by powerful buttresses. Columns and facing marbles were brought from various provinces of the Empire. Four Ottoman minarets and later reinforcements shape the current silhouette.
The building has repeatedly survived earthquakes and fires and was reinforced many times, including in the Ottoman era, when Sinan worked on strengthening the structures. Inside, Byzantine mosaics are combined with Ottoman elements - the mihrab, minbar, and large 19th-century calligraphic medallions. Hagia Sophia is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985.
A place where Byzantine architecture and Ottoman additions come together.
Byzantine dome, Ottoman minarets, and mosaics under one roof
Inside, a spacious prayer hall opens with rows of marble columns and light from the windows at the base of the dome. In the apse stands the mihrab, nearby the minbar, and round 19th-century calligraphic medallions hang on the piers. On the southeast side the sultan's enclosed loge has been preserved, and in the center of the floor, sections of marble inlay are noticeable.
Among the Christian monuments, the mosaics are especially renowned: the Virgin in the apse, the 13th-century Deesis composition in the southern gallery, as well as images of emperors in the vestibules. Access to the upper galleries and the visibility of the mosaics depend on visiting arrangements and worship services - some sections may be closed or partially screened.
Popular details include the so-called Weeping Column by the northwest pier and the runic inscriptions of the Varangians on the gallery railings. Inside is the library of Sultan Mahmud I, founded in 1739, and around the building are the tombs of 16th-century Ottoman sultans. Nearby are Hippodrome Square, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern.
Hagia Sophia functions as a mosque; entry to the prayer area is free. Visitors should remove their shoes, dress modestly, women should cover their heads, and avoid visiting during prayer times, especially Friday noon. Queues and security checks are possible at the entrance, and certain areas may be closed for restoration. The easiest way to get there is by tram T1 to the Sultanahmet or Gulhane stop; from the Eminonu pier it is convenient to walk.
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