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Haghia Sophia

Description: Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom) was built in Constantinople (now Istanbul) between 532 and 537 under the ... more

Haghia Sophia ... auspices of Emperor Justinian I. Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul. Telephone: 90-212-5220989 | 90-212-5221750. Open daily except Mondays , 09:30-

Newest Review: ... city, it's turmoil and change over the centuries and it's power of adaption. Haghia Sophia is now a museum, having been converted in 1935. The inside defies words, with the huge dome holding the prize as the largest in the world from the time it was build for around 1000 years. Interesting too is the layers of decoration that can be seen inside-the original church had mosaics as well as ... more

... abstract design which were largely covered with plaster when the building was converted to a mosque. However, this was never fully completed and some of the mosaics have been uncovered leaving a fascinating mixture of the original Christian design and the...more

Read Reviews for Haghia Sophia

Haghia Sophia: Aya Sofya, breathtaking (224 words)
by - written on 23/05/09 (Useful, 2 readings)
Rating:

Of all the spectacular sights in Istanbul, and there are many, the Haghia Sophia (also known as the Aya Sofya) tops the list for me. Built as a church in the 6th century under Justinian I and converted into a mosque in the 15th century after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, no other building so fully captures the history of the city, it's turmoil and change over the centuries and it's power of adaption. Haghia Sophia is now a museum, having been converted in 1935. The inside defies words, with the huge dome holding the prize as the largest in the world from the time it was build for around 1000 years. Interesting too is the layers of decoration that ... Read the complete review