Hagia Sophia, Byzantine mosque in Sultanahmet, Turkey
The central dome rises 56 meters above the marble floor, supported by pendentives and semi-domes in cascading arrangement. The interior spans 82 meters in length and 73 meters in width with a vast naos bounded by massive piers. Golden mosaics cover large sections of the upper walls and vaults, while Ottoman roundels bearing Arabic calligraphy hang from the main piers. Marble of various colors sourced from across the Mediterranean covers floors and lower wall sections throughout the space.
Justinian I commissioned the third and final construction in 532 following the destruction of earlier versions by fires and riots. Architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus completed the work in just five years by 537. Sultan Mehmed II converted the church into a mosque in 1453 after conquering Constantinople, adding minarets. Ottoman rulers supplemented it with additional Islamic elements including mihrab and minbar over subsequent centuries. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk transformed the building into a museum in 1935 before it reverted to mosque status in 2020.
The structure has served alternately as museum and mosque since 1934, uniting Orthodox Christian mosaics from Byzantine times with Ottoman Islamic calligraphy medallions. Its successive conversions reflect Turkey's shifting political and religious identity. For Christians, it remains a symbol of the fallen Byzantine Empire, while for Muslims it embodies the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The coexistence of both religious art forms makes it a document of religious transformation across centuries.
Visitors must cover shoulders and knees, with women requiring headscarves during prayer times from 9:00 to 17:00. Entry is free, though queues can extend for several hours, particularly on weekends and holidays. The T1 tramway stops at Sultanahmet station within walking distance. Photography is permitted outside prayer times but without flash. A baggage storage facility operates near the entrance area. The upper galleries remain closed to visitors at present.
The construction preserves its original 6th-century engineering with 40 windows around the dome base creating a floating light effect. The architects used lighter tuff bricks from Rhodes in the upper dome section to reduce overall weight. Acoustic amphorae were embedded in walls and vaults to amplify sound and reduce structural load. The building survived numerous earthquakes despite its daring construction, including severe tremors in 558 and 989 that required only partial repairs.
Location: Fatih
Location: Istanbul
Location: Istanbul Province
Location: Cankurtaran
Inception: December 27, 0537
Founders: Constantine the Great
Architects: Isidore of Miletus, Anthemius of Tralles, Trdat the Architect, Mimar Sinan
Official opening: 1054
Architectural style: Byzantine architecture, basilica
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Part of: Historic Areas of Istanbul
Address: Soğukçeşme Sokağı 34122 İstanbul
Phone: +902125221750
Email: contact@muze.gen.tr
Website: https://youtu.be/w-cyVWCbGXo
GPS coordinates: 41.00833,28.98000
Latest update: November 27, 2025 18:46
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque
431 m
Topkapı Palace
430 m
Basilica Cistern
175 m
Runic inscriptions in Hagia Sophia
86 m
Hagia Irene
180 m
Obelisk of Theodosius
470 m
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
389 m
Gülhane Park
433 m
Hippodrome of Constantinople
432 m
The Stone of Million
169 m
Historic Areas of Istanbul
16 m
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
507 m
Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamamı
412 m
German Fountain
321 m
Fountain of Ahmed III
102 m
Tiled Kiosk
424 m
Church of the Virgin of the Pharos
363 m
Hodegon Monastery
430 m
Zeynep Sultan Mosque
173 m
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum Library
329 m
Procession Kiosk
342 m
Ahırkapı Feneri
508 m
Cağaloğlu Hamam
448 m
Firuz Ağa Mosque
319 m
Hazine-i Evrak binası
398 m
Istanbul Governor's Office
518 m
Cezeri Kasım Pasha Mosque
514 m
Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum
442 mReviews
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