Hagia Sophia (Santa Sophia)

When visiting Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is a must.

Originally built as a Byzantine Christian basilica, it has been converted multiple times depending on the religion of the Empire ruling on Istanbul.
It was made a museum in 1935 by Atatürk, and reconverted into a mosque again in 2020.

Because of its many changes in ownership, the church presents many Islamic symbols but also numerous Catholic frescoes and mosaics.

There are two entrances: one leading to the lower section, reserved for Turks and Muslims, and another that allows access to the upper section only, intended for tourists.

It is certainly beautiful, but in my opinion, not as impressive as other monuments in the city (like the Basilica Cistern or the Blue Mosque).
The fact that you can't view it from the ground is a significant limitation and the EUR 25 entry fee recently introduced is very high.Læs mere