Originally I was going to highlight the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) with a single photo as I do occasionally from sites I’ve visited around the world. But I couldn’t resist showing off more from this former church, later mosque, now museum that turns 1,475 years old in 2012. The Hagia Sophia is easily one of a handful of my favorite pieces of architecture anywhere. And much like the Taj Mahal in India is a popular tourist destination that won’t disappoint you.
Age brings with it many things, including stories that can make you that fun old crazy person at family events down the line. You can imagine then when you turn 1,475, Hagia Sophia’s got quite a tale to tell – even if she doesn’t look a day over 1,000.
The Hagia Sophia was actually constructed in 3 phases (beginning in 360 A.D.) and the structure that you see today was completed in 537 A.D. It was originally a Greek church in what was then the new capital of the Roman Empire.
When the Ottoman army, under the command of Sultan Mehmet II, conquered Constantinople on May 29, 1453, the building was quickly converted into a mosque. That helped to serve three aims – to place the firm stamp of Islam upon the city without completely disenfranchising the majority Christian population of Istanbul at the time; while preserving the one of the world’s architectural wonders. (Plus lay claim to it, hey, Sultan’s prerogative.)
A view of the Hagia Sophia from its right side, a view you’ll most likely get from many of the hostel rooftops that are nearby in the Sultanahmet area. The building’s structure was reenforced and improved in the mid-1500s by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. Like much of his other work, including the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Hagia Sophia was engineered to be earthquake resistant. Especially important in a city that sees, on average, one major quake every century and plenty of smaller earthquakes in between.
In 1935 Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the Hagia Sophia a museum, due to its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance for various peoples. Formal prayer is not permitted inside.
The Hagia Sophia occupies 7,400 square meters but perhaps the museum’s most famous feature is the 50 meter high dome above these people (and travel blogging photographer).
A view of the second floor – from the second floor.
The Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world for 983 years and today the museum is Istanbul’s second most visited site. (Topkapi Palace is first but honestly, if pressed for time go with Hagia Sophia.) You can visit all days of the week except Monday’s and the entrance fee is 25 Turkish lira (~$14). I recommend taking your time – at least 30 minutes – to wander around this building that has seen the passing of 3 intercontinental empires, a world war, and the birth of the world’s first secular and democratic Muslim-majority nation. Not bad for someone who looks so young.
Didn’t know this birthday was coming up. Slapped wrists for us! 🙂 And really – Topkapı is more visited than Aya Sofya?? Fully agreed that Aya Sofya is much more worth your time than Topkapı. Great pics. Shall share with our Turkey fraternity.
haha, Sophia’s been quiet about it, I think she’s sensitive about her age 😛 I too was surprised about Topkapi but it’s first by a very small margin 😉 Thanks for sharing too btw!
A really wonderful place to visit and even better now the scaffolding has been removed. I would say that a visit of 30 mins is hardly enough time to take in the wonders of Haghia Sophia. You need at least an hour and, if you want to take pictures as we do, you could stay for longer. Much prefer this wonderful place over Topkapi Saray.
I wrote and rewrote those minutes from 60 up and down, I couldn’t come up with a good number! Figured once somebody was in that would easily decide for them but do agree an hour is hardly out of the question for Hagia Sophia.
I really miss Istanbul. I hope to make it back to Turkey next year.
Any chance that you will be in Thailand this winter?
I hope you’ll get a chance to make it back as well 🙂
Unfortunately though I’ll be around Asia, I don’t have any Thailand plans at the moment.
What beautiful photos, Anil. You’ve done a marvelous job of capturing the beauty of Hagia Sohpia in Istanbul.
Thank you Donna, my lens was very fortune 🙂
This is just beautiful! I’ve visited Istanbul back in 2007 but didn’t get a chance to visit this place. The beauty is unreal, great captures.
I’m surprised you missed it but a good excuse for a return trip!
I am visiting Istanbul later this year and just trawling the web for info on it. I certainly won’t be missing this beautiful wonder that’s for sure!
You certainly shouldn’t 🙂
WOW! I need to visit this place, both inside and outside look beautiful. I could spend hours exploring it.
…and you likely will once you arrive!
Hi Anil,
Absolutely stunning pictures! This place was wonderful. To be honest, people should visit Suleimaniya, Blue mosque and Hagia Sofia on three different days to give them adequate justice and not get bored by huge domes.
Priyank
Hi Priyank,
Thank you and good advice, especially when the lines are long, it can create a travel fatigue if you’ve had a long day already.
Definitely long visits are required although I think that the Blue Mosque would be the shortest visit as it is a ‘working’ mosque.
Judy
Those pictures are breathtaking! My family and I visited Istanbul a year back, staying at serviced apartments. Fondly remember asking the receptionist at Fraser Place istanbul whether we should’ve stayed longer at Topkapi Palace or Hagia Sophia, and she said Hagia Sophia, in a heartbeat as well. Great advice, lol! Looking at these pictures really make me want to visit there again!
haha, happy we agree!
We were in Istanbul for a month, spanning September and October this year. Favorite city of our nine-month digitally nomadic trip. Cuisine, people, views, culture, mosques, Bosphorus, so much more.
Very happy to hear it 🙂