In each country we visit there are certain must see sights. Here in Istanbul there is one magnificent structure which tells the story of this city at the crossroads of the world like no other, The Hagia Sophia. On the site of previous Greek churches the Roman Emperor Justinian I commissioned a grand cathedral. Completed in 537, it features an expansive dome resting on a square structure, a difficult engineering achievement, which resulted in a massive interior space. The Hagia Sophia remained the great Cathedral of the Eastern Roman Empire (also referred to as the Byzantine Empire) for nearly a thousand years until Constaninople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Under the Ottomans the cathedral was converted to a mosque and four minarets were added. With the fall of the Ottoman empire after world war I, and the creation of the modern secular Republic of Turkey, the Hagia Sophia became a cultural museum highlighting both Christian and Islamic elements. Most recently, in 2020, the decision to reinstate the Hagia Sophia as a Mosque was met with some controversy. As a result of this change many areas such as the upper galleries containing Christian iconography are now closed to the public, and a large mosaic portraying the Madonna and child in the great arch above the mihrab are now covered with drapery. Regardless of the new restrictions, it was well worth the 1 hour wait in line in order to experience this majestic space and inspiring architectural gem.
It’s beautiful
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