"Majestic Architecture" Agia Sophia - Ayasofya Tip by ani10881

Despite all the construction equipment present when I visited, Haghia Sophia is pretty spectacular. The combinations of the restored mosaics and minarets, dome, the script, et cetera should probably be seen by YOU while visiting Istanbul. Like any other museum, there are groups of schoolchildren scuttling about and many other tourists, but since there's so much space I didn't feel like I was suffocating or anything. There are informational posters in English and Turkish located close to the front of the museum (see first picture listed).

In a nutshell...
Built on the present spot in 537, under Justinian the Great's rule. The first church was destroyed sometime in the 4th century, the next one destroyed in the 6th century. Time has been rough on this building: earthquakes and looters haven't helped. When the Turks took Constantinople in 1453, Haghia Sophia was converted into a mosque. The minarets were added and a lot of restoration was done. Finally, thanks to Ataturk, it was converted into a museum in 1935. Check this site for info about the building: Istanbul Portal. Also, Wikipedia has a bit of ineresting info about the construction: Wiki-Haghia Sophia

Directions: in Sultanahmet... you won't have trouble finding it...