Hagia Sophia - the Wisdom of God, Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia - the former patriarchal Orthodox cathedral, later a mosque, then for a long time - a museum; a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the “golden age” of Byzantium and again a mosque in 2022
Updated : from July 10, 2022 - this is the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia . Details here>>
Hagia Sophia was the largest church in Constantinople, where all the rulers of the Eastern Roman Empire were crowned. It was built three times in the same place. The church first built was called Megale Ekklesia (Great Church), and from the 5th century it was identified as Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom).
Photo of Hagia Sophia in evening illumination
At its base, the cathedral is a rectangle 76x68 meters. The height of the dome reaches 56 meters, and its diameter is 30 meters. The thickness of the walls in some places reaches 5 meters. This great building has changed several roles over its history - it was a patriarchal Orthodox cathedral, and an Ottoman mosque, then in the secular period - a museum, a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture. In modern times it is a historical mosque. The official name today is the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia .
Author's tours in Turkey
This is a trip for those who:
- Doesn't want to spend time on a tourist bus
- Tired of package deals
- Doesn't want to overpay for a vacation
- Wants a vibrant program in a small group
