Hagia Sophia, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, is a mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. It was formerly a church and a museum. The last of three church buildings to be successively erected on the site by the Eastern Roman Empire, it was completed in AD 537, becoming the world's largest interior space and among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome.Source: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting tips
- Avoid prayer times and expect a ticketed visitor gallery.
- Best season in Turkey: April to June and September to October.
- Carry water, sun protection and clothing suitable for religious sites where relevant.
Location map
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Open in Google Maps · Coordinates via Wikipedia.
Where to stay nearby
The most convenient base is Istanbul. Recommended areas: Sultanahmet (walk to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque); Beyoğlu / Karaköy (nightlife, galleries and cafés); Kadıköy (Asian side) (local food scene and markets).
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