Hagia Sophia in Turkey

Hagia Sophia in Turkey

Built between 532 and 537 AD, Hagia Sophia is a religious building located in present-day Istanbul, Turkey. Renowned for its massive dome, it stands as an exemplary Byzantine architectural marvel that “changed the history of architecture.” The cathedral was named after a saint called Sophia, hence the name “Hagia Sophia” (Ἁγία Σοφία), which means "Holy Wisdom" in Greek.

The church covers an area of approximately 5,400 square meters, with a rectangular main structure. Its central dome has a diameter of 33 meters and sits 55 meters above the ground. At each end of the east-west axis are two smaller domes, each connected to even smaller ones. The interior is divided into three side aisles by colonnades. The walls above the colonnades are punctuated with windows of varying sizes, and the base of the central dome is encircled by 40 windows. When sunlight streams through these windows into the hall, the painted semi-domes adorned with murals and patterns appear to float in the air, creating a mystical and ethereal atmosphere.

The central dome of Hagia Sophia has a diameter of 33 meters, making it one of the largest domes in the world. Its apex reaches approximately 60 meters, higher than that of the Pantheon. The construction of Hagia Sophia involved 10,000 craftsmen and cost the equivalent of 145,000 kilograms of gold. After numerous wars and destruction by the Turks, the magnificent buildings of Constantinople were largely devastated, yet Hagia Sophia remarkably survived. It is the only building from the Justinian era that remains completely intact.

Today, Hagia Sophia is known as the Ayasofya Museum (Ayasofya Müzesi). Undoubtedly, it is one of the most exquisite structures left behind in the course of history. It embodies features of Roman architecture while also exuding the charm of Eastern art, making it the most famous and representative historical building in Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia

Must-visit reason: The finest example of Byzantine architecture

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Turkey[turkey]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Istanbul Province [İstanbul Province]

City where the attraction is located: Istanbul [İstanbul]