Beneath the magnificent structure of Hagia Sophia, an architectural masterpiece, a vigorous excavation and restoration effort ...

Hagia Sophia, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 under the Historic Areas of Istanbul, has a rich history. Built in 537 CE under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it stood for nearly ...

The Hagia Sophia remains a highly popular tourist destination, attracting millions of travelers. Here is a detailed look at this ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, Turkey.

Interior of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Shutterstock. Some of these subterranean spaces are as ancient as the mosque itself, having been constructed between 523 and 537 C.E.

The Hagia Sophia, one of the world’s ... elaborate mosaics, ... At the time, it was the largest interior space in the world. When the building became a mosque, several changes were made.

Hagia Sophia saw 7.7 million visitors stream through its spacious interior last year. Visitors take photographs of Byzantine mosaics in the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul on April 14, 2025 ...

Hagia Sophia remains serene, the wisdom of ages keeping itself to itself, unmoved by human passions and controversy. It has endured for 1,500 years and no doubt will do so for a good few more.

Inside the building, four columns will support a platform to allow for restoration of the Hagia Sophia’s mosaics, and a crane will be used to work on the roof, dome and minarets.

Hagia Sophia saw 7.7 million visitors stream through its spacious interior last year. Around 2.1 million of them are foreign tourists, many of whom pay 25 euros for an entry ticket, generating ...