Hagia (Aya) Sofia (Istanbul, Turkey)
Posted by: cerawallace
N 41° 00.310 E 028° 58.480
35T E 666064 N 4541208
Church or mosque, Constantinople or Istanbul, this remains one of the most beautiful structures in the world.
Waymark Code: WM3VZT
Location: Türkiye
Date Posted: 05/24/2008
Views: 135
One of the most stunning and beautiful structures in the world, the Hagia (Aya) Sofia was originally constructed between 532 and 537 A.D. by order of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian for use as a church. It is considered among the best examples of Byzantine architecture and served as a focal point for the Greek Orthodox Church for over 1000 years. When the Turks seized Constantinople in 1453, the church was converted to a mosque, which it remained as until 1925 when, under President Ataturk, it became a museum.
(Information from Wikipedia)
Type: Former mosque
Address: Cankurtaram Ch., Istambul
Website reference (required if no minaret or 2nd photo): [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Posting a photo of your visit is strongly encouraged but not required. There is NO requirement that you enter inside the mosque as some mosques may not allow this. Please refrain from taking pictures inside the mosque if it is not permitted by the management and generally have respect for the reliqious nature of the site.