Turkey Travel—Visiting Hagia Sophia, Was the Largest in the World

Originally a church, later a mosque, the 6th-century Hagia Sophia ⭐⭐(532–537) by Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Seville Cathedral (1507) in Spain.[1]

Hagia Sophia is  a mosque and major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The building was erected three times by the Eastern Roman Empire. The present Hagia Sophia is the third, built in 537 AD.

Photo Gallery

The below photos were taken on 03/23/2023.

Inside Views

Mehmed II's (commonly known as Mehmed the Conqueror ) signature (i.e., Tughra) on the top

Shoes off for all and headscarf on for women before entering

Tympanum Mosaic, situated in the tympanum of the southwestern entrance. The medallions on both sides of the Virgin's head carry the monograms MP and ΘΥ, an abbreviation of "Mētēr" and "Theou", meaning "Mother of God".

Outside Views

References

1. Hagia Sophia (Wikipedia)
2. 12-Day 10-Night Turkey Tours from Istanbul: Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Pamukkale and Sirince
3. Hagia Sophia Mosaics