Hagia Sophia

Istanbul is full of beautiful architecture, but Hagia Sophia has been the city’s shining star since its construction in the 6th century due to its massive dome roof. It is a stunning example of Byzantine architecture and Istanbul’s most-visited tourist destination. It is safe to say that no trip to Istanbul is complete unless you visit Hagia Sophia.
Originally built as a cathedral, it was eventually converted into a mosque, and today it stands as one of Istanbul’s finest museums. The conversion from mosque to museum was a deliberate move to help foreign visitors better understand and appreciate Islamic culture, history, and artwork. Both Christian and Islamic religious mosaics and symbols can be found here, although the latter is clearly the most predominant.

There is no other way to describe the interior than jaw-dropping. Dozens and dozens of massive columns adorned with intricate carvings on the upper partitions frame a large central atrium where the circle and the half circle dominate everywhere your eyes fall. A deeper look will reveal astonishing artwork, beautiful mosaics, and ornate interior architecture down to the smallest detail.
Get Cultured: As beautiful as Hagia Sophia is, there is a lot more to learn than what you remember from school or can read on the signs. Hire a guide if you want to leave having gained some knowledge in addition to those pretty photos.
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