Where is the Hagia Sophia?
Quick Answer
The Hagia Sophia stands in Istanbul, Turkey, in the historic Sultanahmet district on the European side of the Bosphorus.
The Full Story
Byzantine Emperor Justinian I built the current Hagia Sophia in just under six years, and it was completed in 537 CE. For nearly a thousand years it was the largest cathedral in the world, and its central dome, about 31 metres across and 55 metres high, amazed visitors. After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II turned it into a mosque and minarets were added. In 1934 the Turkish republic made it a museum, and in 2020 it was converted back into a mosque while staying open to visitors. It is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Church, Mosque, Museum β 1,500 Years of the Hagia Sophia"