- 7 April 2023
- All Categories, Mosques
Hagia Sophia Mosque
There are many places that we can put at the top of the list of places to visit in Istanbul and it is very difficult to choose, but Hagia Sophia deserves to be on top of the list. Hagia Sophia was built by the Eastern Roman Emperor Constantius in 360 and it is one of the oldest cathedrals in the world.
Hagia Sophia, known as Megale Ekklesia at that time, gained its closest appearance to its current appearance after the works of Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletos who were commissioned by Emperor Justinian. Hagia Sophia’s construction was completed in 5 years and 10 months with the work of two architects. It was the cathedral that was built in the shortest time in the world compared to other structures of that time.
In the 5th century, the building was named Hagia Sophia, and it carried this name until Istanbul was conquered in 1453. After conquering Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmet ordered Aya Sofya to be a mosque and the minarets of the building were built by Mimar Sinan. Aya Sofya became a museum in 1935 and it was reopened for worship in 2020.
You can wait a little while at the entrance, as the mosque is flooded with visitors from all over the world. If you are going to hold your shoes when you enter the mosque, it is useful to take a bag with you. If you are carrying your shoes, we would like to point out that no visitors are allowed in the front section. The front section is not open during prayer times. Since this building is a place of worship, the officials can warn you if you enter with your shorts. Covers are also sold at the entrance for visitors who do not have a head cover.