Visitors pass in front of the Hagia Sophia.
No visit to Istanbul is complete without seeing the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, or Ayasofya in Turkish, is a very important religious and cultural icon that is famous throughout the world. This massive building is about 1500 years old, with parts of it being hundreds of years older. It is also conveniently located near several other important sites in Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. Read on to learn more!
History
The building that exists today was the third church that was built in that location, constructed between the years 527 and 532. The first church was built around 360 and was a Greek Orthodox church, but was destroyed in riots about 50 years later. Around the year 415, a second church was built, and this building lasted about 115 years before it was also burned down in riots. When the current building was constructed, it served as the largest Christian church of the Byzantine Empire and Eastern Orthodox Church for about 700 years. It was briefly converted into a Catholic cathedral in 1204 during the crusades, but reverted to being an Orthodox church in 1261.
When the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. Nearly 400 years later in 1934, the Turkish government turned the Hagia Sophia into a museum to better represent all human cultures, rather than just a particular religion. In 2020, the Turkish government once again converted it into a mosque.
Significance
The Hagia Sophia is an extremely significant building for multiple reasons. The architecture of the building is widely considered to be the most impressive example of Byzantine architecture in existence. In fact, some historians claim that this historical building impacted architecture around the world by inspiring similar structures to be built. The dome of the building was also considered an architectural feat and has since inspired architects and engineers to emulate it.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this building is the presence of both Christian and Islamic religious elements. When the Ottomans converted this building into a mosque in 1453, they decided not to destroy the Christian mosaics and imagery that had been created over the previous millennium. However, they did add several Islamic elements, such as large gold medallions with the names of Allah and influential Islamic leaders. They also chose to cover up certain Christian imagery, rather than destroy them.
When it became a museum in 1934, the Hagia Sophia began to showcase the elements of both religions side by side. Even more surprising is that when Turkey decided to convert it into a mosque again in 2020, they continued to show the original Christian elements that adorn the walls and ceilings of the building. This is a hopeful sign for religious tolerance in a region that is constantly portrayed as lacking it by the media.
How to Get There
The Hagia Sophia is located in the European part of Istanbul. It is relatively easy to get to if you are already in the European part of Istanbul. It is located right next to the Sultanahmet station on the T1 line of the Istanbul Tram. This makes it easily accessible to much of Istanbul.
If you are coming from the Asian part of Istanbul, you will have to first have to cross the Bosphorus Strait. You can do this by taking a vehicle across one of the three suspension bridges, take the Marmaray commuter rail under the strait, or take a ferry across the water. If it is your first time in Istanbul, I recommend taking the ferry across. Once you are in the western part of the city, the tram will take you right to the Hagia Sophia.
Rules for Entry
Since the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in 2020, there is no longer a fee to enter. This saves visitors 100 Turkish Lira (about $5.25 USD).
While this good news for visitors, the fact that the Hagia Sophia is now a place of worship has other stipulations for visitors. People of all faiths are allowed to enter, but they will have to follow the rules of the mosque. Men will have to wear long pants and women will have to wear a headscarf. Luckily, headscarves are available at the entrance for free. You must remove your shoes before walking on the carpets where people pray.
I highly recommend dressing modestly when visiting. When I visited the neighboring Blue Mosque, a Turkish woman was stopped for wearing a tank top and shorts. She started loudly protesting and disrupted everyone who was praying. Don’t be that person.
Opening Hours
The Hagia Sophia used to be closed on Mondays. Now that it is a place of worship, it is open every day from 9 AM to 11 PM. However, visitors will have to be aware that prayer times may affect your experience there.
As of July 2022, the Hagia Sophiia will remain open to tourists during prayer times. During these times, there will be barriers in the middle of the mosque separating the worshippers. You will only be able to cross these barriers while nobody is praying.
Islamic prayer times change each day according to sunrise and sunset. There are 5 times that Muslims pray each day. But the times that will affect your visit the most are at noon (around 1 PM), afternoon (around 3:30 PM), sunset (5:45 PM), and night (7:15 PM). Friday will be the busiest, so try to avoid visiting the Hagia Sophia that day.
