Hagia Sophia was a church during the Byzantine period and a mosque during the Ottoman period. It remained as a museum for a long time, but was turned back into a mosque in 2020. Nowadays, praying in Hagia Sophia is free, but for touristic visits you have to buy a ticket. As of June 2025, the lower floor of Hagia Sophia serves entirely as a mosque and is open only to those … [Read more...] about HAGIA SOPHIA Ticket Price & Hours (Updated → 2025)
Hagia Sophia
Byzantine Mosaics in Hagia Sophia (Latest News) 2025
The mosaics in Hagia Sophia are the traces of a lost civilization that have survived to the present day. Hagia Sophia was built in 537 and remained a church for 900 years. However, the mosaics inside were controversial even in those years. After 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period and remained a mosque for about 500 years. The building … [Read more...] about Byzantine Mosaics in Hagia Sophia (Latest News) 2025
Hagia Sophia Architecture, History, Facts (Updated 2025)
Hagia Sophia is undoubtedly one of the structures that changed the history of architecture. It remained as the world’s biggest monotheistic temple for 1000 years. Hagia Sophia served as a church for 900 years, and as a mosque for 500 years and then as a museum for 85 years. As an experienced tour guide who has assisted various local and foreign visitors who visit Hagia … [Read more...] about Hagia Sophia Architecture, History, Facts (Updated 2025)
