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Hagia Sophia

✨ The celestial dome

Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, is one of the best-known monuments of the Byzantine and Ottoman worlds. Its name comes from the Greek expression meaning “Holy Wisdom”. The present building was commissioned by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I after an earlier church was destroyed during the Nika revolt in 532.

Designed by the architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, it was built between 532 and 537 and opened for worship on 27 December 537. Its enormous central dome rests on four great supports, with curved triangular structures called pendentives helping to transfer its weight toward the ground.

This solution allowed the architects to create a vast interior that influenced later Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques. For almost nine centuries, Hagia Sophia served as the main cathedral of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. After the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453, it was converted into a mosque, and minarets and other Islamic architectural elements were added over time.

The building preserves traces of both Christian and Islamic artistic traditions, including Byzantine mosaics and Ottoman calligraphy. In 1935, it became a museum, before being converted back into a mosque in 2020. Hagia Sophia is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its history illustrates how a single building can change function while retaining evidence of different periods, religions and artistic traditions.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that in the past, the walls of Hagia Sophia were covered with millions of small glass cubes coated in real gold leaf? These mosaics shone so brightly that the interior seemed lit by magical light, even without candles. Emperor Justinian was so proud that he exclaimed, 'Solomon, I have surpassed you!' on opening day!

The weeping column: inside, there is a mysterious column that is always damp and a bit cold. It is said to have magical powers and can grant wishes! For your wish to come true, you must place your thumb in a small hole in the column and rotate your hand in a complete circle without stopping.

For years, the monument housed a very special resident: a cat named Gli! She became famous worldwide and even had her own social media account. She loved to walk quietly among tourists and presidents, as cats are highly respected in Istanbul.