About Cookies On This Site
We use cookies to personalise content, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic.
We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.
You may read more about any of the purposes or vendors that we use by clicking 'More info'. REFUSE COOKIES ACCEPT COOKIES

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia, built in 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral until 1453 (except between 1204-1261, converted in a Roman Catholic cathedral).


It was then, after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire, when the building became a mosque. At that time were destroyed and plastered the Christian symbols and added Islam elements as the mihrab or the four minarets. In 1931, Hagia Sophia was secularized and closed to the public for four years to be opened as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. Although the use of the building as a place of worship was forbidden, since 2013 it is singed from the minarets the call to prayer twice per day and Muslim prayers were held on July 1st, 2016. In 2017, it was organized a gathering in front of the building to pray for its reconversion into a mosque. At present, Hagia Sophia is one of the Turkish most visited tourist attraction.

Project date: 537


VISITOR INFO

ADDRESS:
Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi
34122 İstanbul
Istanbul
Turkey

EXHIBITIONS

  • Ceramics and its dimensions

    exposition

GET THE
CLOUDGUIDE APP NOW!

CloudGuide is a free app and platform to bring digital content of cultural institutions and tourist attractions to your own smartphone. Download now and enjoy the visit!

DOWNLOAD NOW AND ENJOY THE VISIT!