Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) is one of the world’s most famous historic buildings, located in the heart of Istanbul.

It has had an extraordinary history:

• 537 CE: Built as the main cathedral of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I.
• 1453: After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed II.
• 1935: It became a museum under the Republic of Türkiye.
• 2020: It was reconverted into a mosque and is now used for daily prayers while remaining open to visitors outside prayer times.