"The Aya Sofia (Hagia Sophia) Church/Mosq" Agia Sophia - Ayasofya Tip by WanderingFinn

Aya Sofia was built by the Byzantine emperor, Justinian, between 532 and 537 A.D. It is famous in particular for its massive dome.

The church was converted to a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror (Sultan Mehmed II) on the very day he conquered Constantinople (nowadays Istanbul) with the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Since 1923 Aya Sofia has been a museum.

Aya Sofia is located in the historical Sultanahmet district in Istanbul.

The entrance fee was 15 000 000 Turkish liras (2004).

Please respect the local culture; Turkey is a muslim country though it is a modern country. Ladies don't need to cover their head or hair, but breasts, knees and shoulders should be covered so no shorts or miniskirts or too open shirts. Everyone has to take off shoes at the entrance.

Directions: Everyone in Istanbul knows what and where Aya Sofia is. No need for driving- or other instructions.