Located in Instabul, Turkey, Hagia Sofia (or the 'Church of the Holy Wisdom' to give its proper name), is a pristine example of Byzantine architecture. In its past, it has been a basilica, a mosque, an orthodox church and now rests in its current state as a museum. It was built in 537, remaining as a Church until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 when the conquering Ottomans converted it to a Mosque, plastering over its beautiful Christian Mosaics,replacing them with gold Islamic ones. After the establishment of the modern Turkish republic, it was  created a museum in 1935.

Visit Hagia Sofia for the grand marble floors, the endless gold mosiacs that line the ceiling, and gaze at the vast dome.It is said to have changed the history of architecture.

Hagia Sophia is famous for the light that reflects everywhere in the interior of the nave, giving the dome the appearance of floating above. This effect was achieved by inserting forty windows around the base of the original structure.The dome is 102ft in diameter. Just outside the entrance, the path is lined by stone cannonballs, which were used in the siege of Constantinople in 1453.When Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror entered Constantinople, he was amazed by the beauty of Hagia Sofia, and immediately ordered it to be made a Mosque.

Hagia Sofia fell into disrepair from tthe 1930's, and in 1993 a UNESCO report spurred the authorities into a major renovation.Some of the Christian mosaics are now being uncovered, and can be viewed in an upper gallery.Thankfully you can now see Hagia Sofia in something approaching its former glory. In 2015 it was Turkeys most visited tourist attraction.Hagia Sofia also features in Dan Browns novel 'Inferno'. 

The museum is open every day excluding Monday, and has seasonal hours. For entry, buy a museum pass priced at $25.

Getting There:

Turkish airlines fly direct from the U.S.

Istanbul Airport is well serviced by many other international airlines.

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