About
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 537 CE and served as the largest cathedral in the world for nearly 1,000 years. Its massive dome — 31 meters in diameter — appeared to float on light, described by contemporaries as "suspended from heaven by a golden chain." After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it became a mosque for nearly 500 years.
In 1934, Atatürk converted it into a museum, and in 2020, Turkey reconverted it to a mosque. Throughout its 1,500-year history, it has served as cathedral, mosque, museum, and mosque again — a unique symbol of the intersection of Christian and Islamic civilization.
# Top 10 Hagia Sophia facts
- 1Hagia Sophia's dome was the world's largest for nearly 1,000 years
- 2The building has been used as a church, mosque, museum, and mosque again across 1,500 years
- 3Byzantine mosaics were plastered over when it became a mosque — some have now been uncovered
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Hagia Sophia's dome was the world's largest for nearly 1,000 years
- ◆The building has been used as a church, mosque, museum, and mosque again across 1,500 years
- ◆Byzantine mosaics were plastered over when it became a mosque — some have now been uncovered
More in Places4 related
7
Places
Great Wall of China
The greatest architectural achievement in human history — 21,000 km of stone and history.
Interest91/100
33
Places
The Great Pyramid of Giza
Built 4,500 years ago — still one of the largest structures ever constructed.
Interest85/100
38
Places
Taj Mahal
A monument to love — the world's most beautiful building took 22 years to build.
Interest84/100
17
Places
Machu Picchu
The lost city of the Incas — a masterpiece of engineering above the clouds.
Interest82/100