Hagia Sophia in Istanbul 2021: mosque, museum, history, how to get there, opening hours, photos, videos, entrance, price, facts

Hagia Sophia - the Wisdom of God, Hagia Sophia of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia - the former patriarchal Orthodox cathedral, later a mosque, then for a long time - a museum; a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the “golden age” of Byzantium and again a mosque in 2021

Updated : from July 10, 2021 – this is the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia . Details here>>

Hagia Sophia was the largest church in Constantinople, where all the rulers of the Eastern Roman Empire were crowned. It was built three times in the same place. The church first built was called Megale Ekklesia (Great Church), and from the 5th century it was identified as Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom).

Photo of Hagia Sophia in evening illumination

At its base, the cathedral is a rectangle 76x68 meters. The height of the dome reaches 56 meters, and its diameter is 30 meters. The thickness of the walls in some places reaches 5 meters. This great building has changed several roles over its history - it was a patriarchal Orthodox cathedral, and an Ottoman mosque, then in the secular period - a museum, a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture. In modern times - a historical mosque. The official name today is the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia .

Story

The unprecedented splendor of the temple amazed the people's imagination, so that legends arose that heavenly powers took part in the construction of the cathedral. Entering the completed temple, Justinian, delighted with the splendor, fell to his knees and exclaimed: “Solomon! I have surpassed you!

First buildings

The first church on this site was built by Emperor Constantine I in 324; by 360, Emperor Constantius added to the structure. The church had a wooden roof and was a classical basilica in shape.

The basilica is a rectangular structure consisting of an odd number of naves.
A nave is an elongated room, bounded on one or two sides by a number of columns or pillars that separate it from other naves.

Socrates Scholasticus also reports the exact date of the consecration of the temple: “after the elevation of Eudoxius to the episcopal throne of the capital, the great church known under the name of Sophia was consecrated, which happened in the tenth consulate of Constantius and the third of Caesar Julian, on the fifteenth day of the month of February.”

The church was destroyed by fire twice: in 404 during a popular uprising and in 414.

In the same year 414, Emperor Theodosius II gave the order for the construction of a new basilica. It consisted of 5 naves and also had a wooden roof. During the uprising of 532 during the reign of Justinian, the building was burned again.

Justinian period

40 days after the fire, Justinian I ordered a new church to be built in the same place. He conceived the construction of a grandiose building that would serve as a decoration for the capital and demonstrate the greatness of the entire empire.

The best architects of that time were invited for construction, more than 10,000 workers worked under their leadership, construction took five years and the church was opened for worship on December 27, 537. The emperor ordered the collection of the best building material. Marble was brought from Numidia, Hierapolis and Proconnis. Architectural elements of ancient buildings were brought from all over the world (for example, porphyry columns were brought from the Temple of the Sun to Rome, and marble columns from Ephesus). Gold, silver and ivory were used in decoration.

According to one legend, during the illumination of the temple, Justinian said: “Solomon, I have surpassed you!”, referring to the Temple of Jerusalem

Ottoman period

Prayers in Hagia Sophia, it is clear that Muslims are located somewhat diagonally.
On the night of May 29, 1453, Christian worship was held in the cathedral for the last time. Constantinople fell and the cathedral was captured by the Turks. The parishioners were killed and the rich decorations were looted. The next day, Sultan Mehmed II converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque. By his order, 4 minarets were erected, and a mihrab was placed in the southeastern corner.

Mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque indicating the direction to Mecca.

Most of the frescoes were covered with plaster, which allowed them to survive to this day. In the second half of the 16th century, buttresses (support for strengthening) were added to the building. This influenced the appearance of the cathedral, adding rough features to its appearance.

1880 photograph of the then active mosque

Transformation into a museum

In 1935, the ruler of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, signed a decree giving the cathedral the status of a museum. During the restoration work, the frescoes and mosaics were cleaned and appeared before the people in all their glory. At this point, the religious activities of the cathedral ended and only in 2006 a small room was allocated for Muslim religious ceremonies, but only for museum employees.

Interior decoration during the museum period

Modern period

In 2021, a request to return the cathedral to the status of a mosque was rejected; a Turkish court considered this demand unacceptable. In 2021, President Erdogan nevertheless initiated the transformation of the building into another mosque.

Now there are three mosques on Sultanahmet Square - the Blue, Firuz Agha and the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia.

Change of status of Hagia Sophia in 2020

For several years in a row, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he plans to review the status of Istanbul’s main religious monument. And so, on July 10, 2021, this became a reality: according to Erdogan’s decree on the Hagia Sophia, the temple again began to be called a mosque.

The Turkish government has revoked the decree adopted in 1934 granting Hagia Sophia the status of a museum. And, as a continuation, calling this event a revival and correction of a historical mistake, the Turkish president changed the status of the relic, and, as the latest news reports, Hagia Sophia became a mosque.

This decision of the Turkish authorities was perceived ambiguously not only in Turkey, but also in all countries of the world.

People, to put it mildly, are surprised by this decision, and Orthodox leaders called it a “provocation.” After all, for more than 100 years, by decree of the founder of the Turkish state, the first President of the Turkish Republic M.K. Ataturk's Hagia Sophia is officially a museum and has become one of the most visited and majestic places in Istanbul.

Being a public museum that simultaneously combines many ancient elements of Orthodoxy and Islam, it has become a symbol of peace and the unification of believers of these, and not only these, faiths. And now, when unity and harmony among peoples are so necessary for all of us, the transformation of Hagia Sophia into a mosque could have very negative consequences, causing discord between people of different faiths.

As many believe: Hagia Sophia is a monument that belongs to all humanity. There is no particular point in turning a beautiful building with a centuries-old history into a mosque. And with this decision about the Hagia Sophia museum, Erdogan is simply trying to strengthen his position before the upcoming elections in the country.

In addition, there are a number of questions that have not yet been answered:

1. What to do with the fact that 35 years ago Hagia Sophia was included in the UNESCO list ? This means that now he is not one and is not included in this list.

2. Turkey will suffer considerable material losses . Although, according to Erdogan, the first large Muslim prayer in the new old mosque could take place as early as July 24, experts estimate that the redevelopment will require more than six months and a considerable amount of money.

Previously, the city's main museum received more than 4 million visitors a year, and entrance tickets were not cheap. The Hagia Sophia Mosque will not be able, for many reasons, to accommodate so many people. And it is planned to make entry free, because charging for communication with God is somehow not accepted...

3. What will happen to the Orthodox shrines stored in the museum? After all, during the Service, according to Muslim customs, they cannot be present in the building.

Yes, there are already proposals according to which special lighting will be used during Muslim services. With such lighting, Christian frescoes, mosaics and other relics will be darkened and not visible to those praying.

Another existing option is to simply cover Orthodox artifacts with curtains during Muslim prayers. In general, the Turkish authorities intend to preserve Orthodox shrines. But probably no one can say what it will look like practically now.

There are a lot of questions and few answers.

Well, all we can do is watch the development of events calmly and without unnecessary emotions. After all, it is already useless to hope for the return of the Hagia Sophia MUSEUM.

Architectural features

The cathedral became a masterpiece of its time not only due to its luxury, but also because of its huge dome system. During the earthquake of 558, the eastern half of the dome split and during its restoration the architect Isidoros added a lower hoop, thereby increasing the height of the dome by 7 meters. This hoop contained 40 supporting ribs and 40 windows. Thanks to this, a feeling of a continuous light belt is created and, as a result, the effect of a floating bath.

“It seems that the dome does not rest on a solid structure, but due to the lightness of the structure, it covers the temple with a golden hemisphere lowered from the sky.” Procopius of Caesarea

Main dome of Hagia Sophia

Dome design. The dome of the cathedral had the maximum possible dimensions, determined by the Romans, the builders of the Pantheon. Byzantine masters built the flat dome of the cathedral at one time without any static calculations, according to intuition. However, when laying the foundation, their intuition failed them: the pilasters of the cathedral fell down and the entire building collapsed. Strengthening the foundation required more work than building three new floors. Forced reconstruction spoiled the appearance of the cathedral - massive buttresses strangely contradict the airy light domes. The dome of Hagia Sophia acquired a more elongated outline. The support towers also became taller and more massive.
Main dome. The central dome is connected to the eastern and western semi-domes, which together cover the main nave.
Window. The windows under the dome seem inappropriate - after all, the heavy crown must have a strong, reliable support. In fact, they reduce the risk of cracks, and the dome seems to float above the building.
Girth arches. The pylons and girth arches ensure that the pressure of the dome is evenly distributed.
Brickwork. Byzantine builders did not have cheap material at hand to produce concrete, so they were forced to abandon the use of concrete structures, which at one time greatly facilitated the construction of the Pantheon dome. However, the use of brickwork and thick lime mortar even slightly accelerated the pace of construction - bricks were laid by large teams of low-skilled workers.
Construction pace. The temple building was built unusually quickly - within 5 years. Two teams of craftsmen of 5,000 people each competed to build the eastern and western parts of the cathedral.
Inner space. A huge dome with a diameter of 32.6 meters rises above the central part of the main nave. Light enters through openings at the base of the dome and through windows cut into the tympanums.
Minaret towers. About 900 years after the consecration of the temple, when Byzantium was conquered by the Turks, the building was turned into a mosque and minarets were built on both sides.
Supports. After the earthquake of 557, the buttresses and supporting structures of the cathedral were strengthened.
Towers. the towers adjacent to the northern and southern facades of the temple are located on both sides of the arches supporting the central dome. Massive towers dampen the lateral pressure of the arches.
Tympanum. The tympanum wall, framed by a retaining arch, is not load-bearing, so there are numerous windows cut into it.
Pylons. The support pylons are made of stone. This made it possible to speed up the work process at the very beginning of construction - after all, brickwork takes a long time to harden.

A contemporary of the construction, Procopius of Caesarea, enthusiastically described the cathedral: “Who could count the splendor of the columns and marbles with which the temple is decorated? You might think that you are in a luxurious meadow covered with flowers. How can one not be surprised at their purple or emerald color, as if nature were their artist.
This temple was a wonderful sight. It rises in height as if to the sky and, like a ship on the high waves of the sea, it stands out among other buildings. The temple adorns the city, and itself is decorated by it.”

Sectional diagram of
the light effect of the temple

An important means of expression in the architecture of Hagia Sophia is light. There are no areas of contrasting light here. The temple is completely flooded with light penetrating inside through numerous windows. The huge hall, flooded with light, evoked a feeling of grandeur. Russian ambassadors, having visited Hagia Sophia, wrote to Prince Vladimir in delight: “We do not know whether we are in heaven or on earth. We only know that God dwells here with love.”

Prince Vladimir chose for Rus' the path proposed by the Church of Constantinople. Hagia Sophia is a brilliant embodiment of the idea of a temple as an image of the Divine universe. At night, the temple was illuminated by lamps in the shape of ships and trees.

“This brilliance drives out all darkness from the soul,” wrote the Byzantine historian.

Interweaving of cultures

Due to the fact that at different times the building was both an Orthodox cathedral and the main court mosque, several cultures coexist in it at the same time. Christian frescoes are illuminated by stained glass windows with Arabic script, and the imperial box overlooks the Muslim mihrab.

On the walls of the main hall hang huge round tablets 7 meters in diameter, with sayings from the Koran and the names of the first caliphs written on them. These are the largest examples of Arabic calligraphy in the world.
Slavic inscriptions were left on the walls, columns and other surfaces of Sofia Almost all of them display the name of the writer, a kind of autograph.
There are Scandinavian runes on the parapets and crosses, probably painted during the Crusade.

Today, all non-Muslim elements are closed during prayers and it is problematic to see the faces of Orthodox saints

Some numbers

Often our impression of visual perception is helped by numbers and facts. Here are some measurements and calculations:

cathedral area - 7570 sq.m;
height from floor to top of dome 55.6 m;
columns: 104 in total, 40 in the lower gallery, 64 in the upper;
dome diameter: 31.87 meters - from north to south, 30.87 - from east to west;
number of windows in the dome - 40;
capacity 100,000 people;
The diameter of each circle with calligraphic inscriptions is 7.5 meters.

It was in Byzantine times:

6000 huge candelabra;
6000 portable candlesticks;
each portable candlestick weighed 45 kg.

Minarets of Hagia Sophia

Minarets are high-tech structures built in a mosque to announce the call to prayer and reciting the sala (announcement). Immediately after Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, Fatih Sultan Mehmed built a wooden minaret. This minaret has not survived. Brick minarets found in the southeast date from the Bayezid period. In the southwest and northwest are the minarets of Sultan Murad III, their height is 60 m. The minarets complement the main structure of Hagia Sophia with their lines directed into the sky. Various Ottoman period decorations were added to the minarets during renovations in the 15th, 16th and 19th centuries.

Even amateur photographs show that the minarets are different!

Ticket prices and how to purchase them

A regular full ticket costs around 12 EUR or 14 USD (40 TL).

There are no benefits for students.

Can go for free:

Turkish children under 18 years of age;
children of foreign citizens under 12 years of age;
citizens of the Republic of Turkey over 65 years of age;
disabled people and one accompanying person;
soldiers and sergeants;
COMOS, UNESCO, ICOM card holders;
students studying in Turkey on exchange programs (for example, Erasmus) upon presentation of a contract.

You can buy a ticket:

at the box office, standing in a “live” queue;
in the machines located at the entrance, opposite the cash desks (the machine does not accept cash, and the card must have a chip - one with a magnetic stripe is not suitable);
on the museum website (link here).

Entrance to the territory of the burial grounds of the sultans is free.

Iconic places

Unfortunately, after the museum was converted into a mosque, some places became difficult to view. For example, the navel of the earth is covered with a carpet.

The center of the world

The coronation of emperors of the Eastern Roman era took place in the cathedral. In front of the altar there is a marble platform with round inserts made of colored stone; this place is called “Omphalion” or “Navel of the Earth”. The emperor's throne was in the central large circle, and his entourage stood in the small ones.

The center of the world

Place of baptism of Princess Olga

It was here that Princess Olga's baptism took place. She was the first to be baptized, although her squad and her people remained pagans, as did her son, Prince of Kiev Svyatoslav Igorevich. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, Olga was personally baptized by Emperor Constantine VII in 955. At baptism, the princess received the name Elena.

Today tourists can see the courtyard and font where the Russian princess Olga was baptized.
How the princess outwitted the tsar . According to the scripture, the Byzantine king, admiring the intelligence and beauty of the princess, wanted to marry Olga, to which she replied that “It is not proper for Christians to marry pagans.” It was then that he baptized her. After this, the king again began to call Olga in marriage, to which she replied that she was now his goddaughter. The king presented the princess with riches and released her.

Gate from the Ark

Hagia Sophia absorbed not only material, but also spiritual benefits from all over the world in the form of building materials previously used in other temples. The cathedral's imperial gates are believed to be made from wood from Noah's Ark.

The gate dates back to the 6th century and is the largest in the cathedral - 7 meters in height. These gates were used only by the emperor himself; his dignitaries and retinue used the doors next door.

The Imperial Gate stands out in the middle

The tympanum of the Royal Doors depicts Emperor Leo VI bowing before Jesus Christ blessing him, and to the right and left of Christ are the figures of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel in round medallions. This mosaic, executed at the border of the 10th and 11th centuries, symbolizes the eternal power granted by God to the Byzantine emperors. Leo VI, according to the interpretation of some researchers, did not accidentally fall on his face; he begs for forgiveness in connection with his fourth non-canonical marriage, after which Patriarch Nicholas the Mystic refused him a wedding and did not let him into the temple

Mosaics

On the second floor of the cathedral, many images are laid out in the form of a mosaic. Most of them date back to the 9th – 10th centuries, the later ones – to the 15th. They were discovered under a layer of plaster only in the 20th century during reconstruction, and work is still underway to clean the walls from lime. More recently, mosaics from the Middle Byzantine period were discovered in the northwestern wing.

Legends

Justinian's dreams

According to legend, an angel appeared to the emperor in a dream, holding in his hands a plan for the construction of a great and luxurious temple. Construction took five years and cost the emperor a huge sum. According to Justinian's idea, the cathedral should have been even more richly decorated and many of its parts should have been made of gold, but the architect dissuaded him, citing the possible greed of subsequent rulers. The emperor was afraid that the temple might be looted and agreed to a more “modest” decoration.

Gate mosaic

Weeping Column

Several legends are associated with this column. One of them says that Emperor Justinian wandered around the cathedral with a severe headache; in helplessness, he leaned his head against a column and soon the pain went away. The public heard about this incident and endowed the column with healing powers.

According to another legend, during the reconstruction of the cathedral into a mosque, the dome tilted and Saint Ilya (Khyzyr) leveled the defect, holding on to the column. There was a hole left on the post from his finger.

Another legend tells that during the main reconstruction of Hagia Sophia, the saliva of the Prophet Muhammad, water from the sacred spring Zamzam and earth from Mecca were added to the solution around the column. After this, the pillar began to “cry.”

Weeping Column

Visitors from all over the world are confident that if they put their thumb in the hole, make a wish and make three turns clockwise, their wish will definitely come true.

Doors

There are 361 doors in the temple, 101 of them are of impressive size and covered with symbols. They say that no matter how many times they are counted, the number changes each time. The underground premises of the temple are flooded, but doors can be found even there.

“Cold” window

There is a mysterious window in the temple; it is located on the second floor in the southern part of the cathedral and overlooks the Blue Mosque . The mystery is that in any weather a cool breeze blows from it.

Photo from a cold window

Prayers in the walls

On the right side of the cathedral there is a niche; if you put your ear to the wall, you can hear a slight noise, similar to muttering. There is a legend that when the Turkish army broke into Constantinople, more than 1000 believers took refuge in the temple. When the invaders burst into the cathedral, the priest did not interrupt his prayer. The wall behind him split and hid the priest. Legend says that to this day he reads his prayer there and on the day when the temple becomes Christian again, he will come out of the wall and finish it.

Old drawing of the interior decoration of the Hagia Sophia mosque

Undercooked fish

There is another legend that on the day of the fall of Constantinople, one monk was frying fish and when he was told that the city had fallen, he replied, “It would be more likely for this fish to come to life and jump than for Constantinople to fall.” And the fish really came to life and swam out to sea. Since then, three fish have been swimming in the sea, fried on one side. On the day when the Greeks recapture Constantinople, the fish will jump into the frying pan, it will be finished cooking and everything will return to its place.

Tips for tourists to explore the cathedral

Anyone planning to visit the Church of St. Sophia should take note of useful recommendations from experienced tourists.

The best time for sightseeing is 8 am. Already closer to 9, the cathedral becomes quite crowded; a long line forms near the ticket office. Waiting in line, especially under the scorching sun, is not fun.
If, in addition to the cathedral, the program includes visits to other sites with paid entrance, then it is better to buy a museum card, which can only be used within Istanbul. With this card you don’t have to wait in long lines, and it allows you to save some money.
You must take off your shoes before entering the cathedral.
You should not come to the temple when prayers are going on (5 times a day). On Friday at noon it is better to cancel the visit.
Girls and women can only go inside with their heads covered. If you forgot to take a scarf with you, it’s okay - you can ask for it at the entrance.
Taking photographs inside is allowed, but it is prohibited to include people praying in the frame.
Be sure to take something to drink with you. In the summer the weather in the city is very hot, so it will be very difficult without water. Water will also be purged on the temple grounds, but its price will be much higher.
It will be enough to allocate 1.5-2 hours to explore the museum. This time is quite enough to learn and see all the most interesting things.
To experience maximum emotions and impressions, and get more educational information, it is worth hiring a guide. There are always guides at the entrance who can give you an interesting tour in Russian. Each conductor sets its own price, which may vary significantly. You can always bargain.
If you don’t want to spend money on a guide, you can purchase an audio guide. If this is not to your liking, then before the hike you should watch a documentary about the cathedral.
Some tourists do not recommend coming to Hagia Sophia in the evening. They argue that daylight allows you to see every detail of the interior that may be overlooked in the evening.
When a tourist has bought a ticket, he will be checked by a metal detector. The procedure for checking backpacks is similar to that at the airport.
Restoration work has been going on inside for a long time. Part of the temple is littered from floor to ceiling with scaffolding, which significantly spoils the overall picture and impression of this place.

Buildings on the territory

Fountain

Built in 1740 by Sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754), it is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture and one of the largest and most beautiful fountains in Istanbul. Eight Muqarna marble columns with arches support the dome. The fountain consists of 16 sections, each with a bronze tap for ritual ablutions. The words of Allah “We made everything from water” are engraved on its inside.

Openwork fountain of Mahmud 1

Mausoleums

There are 5 crypts on the territory of the cathedral, containing 145 sarcophagi. One of the most beautiful tombs in Istanbul, the crypt of Sultan Selim II is located here, its architect Sinan. This crypt was completed only three years after the death of the Sultan, on both sides there are ceramic panels with floral designs, they are one of the most beautiful examples of ceramics of the 16th century. The original tablets are kept in the Louvre, but imitations hang on the tomb. There are 41 sarcophagi in the crypt; members of the Sultan’s family are buried in them.

Another 54 sarcophagi are in the crypt of Murad III, 26 in the crypt of Sultan Mehmed III, 19 in the crypt of Mustafa I and Sultan Ibrahim, and the remaining 5 rest in the crypt of the prince.

View of the tombs at Hagia Sophia

School

It was built in 1740 by Sultan Mahmud I in the southwestern courtyard of Hagia Sophia. Before the cathedral was declared a museum, the building was used for its intended purpose - it was an elementary school. The building has now been converted into a Research Department and Exhibition Hall. Conferences and meetings are held here.

Watch

There is also a Clock Museum on site. In front of him is a sundial that shows the correct time! And inside there is a simply unique watch!

Sundial

Library

One of the most important Ottoman additions to the building, it was built by Sultan Mahmud I in 1739 in the southern part of the building between two outriggers. The library consists of a reading room and a vault and is separated from the main temple by a network of gilded bronze carried by 6 pillars. The bronze net is decorated with flowers and curved branches. On the double-leaf gate of the library there are two handles with the inscription “Ya Fettah” - one of the 99 names of Allah.

The corridor, which combines the reading room and the Kutub treasury, is decorated with tiles. The bookshelves are made of rosewood. The library contained about 5,000 books, donated or given by leading figures of the time and Sultan Mahmud himself. Currently, these books are not in the temple itself; they were transferred to the Suleiman Library in 1968.

Museum of Stones (Columns and Capitals)

Hagia Sophia was built on the oldest historical site - the ancient Acropolis.
Numerous excavations were carried out around the cathedral, during which ruins of Christian churches decorated with stone carvings were found. A large number of columns and capitals were found. The museum is located on the territory of the cathedral on the western side, in the open air.

Secrets of the Cathedral's Flooded Dungeon

Dungeons of the Cathedral
In addition to the visible part of St. Sophia, there is also a dungeon about which little is known. From surviving records we can learn that to create the foundation it was necessary to dig a very large pit. Other chronicles say that under the cathedral there are huge tanks in which water is stored and a large number of underground passages. Many believe that the cistern is similar to the Basilica Cistern, located next to Hagia Sophia.

Researchers from America first tried to get into the dungeon in the mid-20th century. Initially, they decided to pump out all the water. But their attempts led to nothing - no matter how much time they spent on it, the amount of water did not decrease. As a result, the pumps burned out, after which they decided to forget about this idea.
The Turks made more successful attempts. They did not intend to pump out all the water, but decided to plunge into it. The last descent was made in 2014. Some beliefs were confirmed, while others turned out to be mere fiction or too exaggerated.

Researchers have discovered places where burials took place. Particular attention was paid to the 11-meter well located at the main entrance. In the well, which is located in the middle of the temple, fragments of a huge lamp were discovered. They found closed openings in the walls that no attempt was made to open. It is believed that behind the doors there may be huge tanks for collecting water, which were talked about in the past. During the investigation, voids were also discovered under the floor.

A dry stone tunnel has also been explored. There are 2 passages from the corridor - one leads to Topkapi Palace, the other to Hippodrome Square.

Working hours

From July 10, 2021, Hagia Sophia operates as a mosque. Visiting is closed during prayer periods.

Location (website, address, how to get there)

Official website: link
Address: Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Ayasofya Meydanı, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Telephone: +90

The most convenient way to get to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is by high-speed tram T1 to the Sultanahmet stop. Next, follow through Sultanhmet Park.

Current ticket prices

The entrance ticket cost 100 Turkish lira, both cash and cards were accepted. Children under seven years old have free admission (although you also need to get a free ticket at the box office).

Now, after being converted into a mosque, entry is free for everyone.

The terrace of the Four Seasons restaurant offers magnificent views of Hagia Sophia

How to get there

The Hagia Sophia Museum is located in the heart of the historical part of the city - in the Sultanahmet district.

You can get here by tram line T1, which runs almost through the entire center and connects the Zeytinburnu and Kabatas districts.

You need the Sultanahmet stop. Blue Mosque" is the name of another celebrity, the Blue Mosque.

When you get off the tram, you will find yourself exactly opposite the mosque, and to the left of it, about five hundred meters away, is Hagia Sophia. It's hard not to notice her.

Interesting Facts

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was not named after the martyr Hagia Sophia, although she also existed. In Greek sofia is wisdom. This is the Cathedral of the Wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is something like a conductor between the Lord and man.
The most important cat in Istanbul, named Gli, lives in the Cathedral. This cat behaves like a real master in the cathedral and loves to sit near the Imperial Seat. He also became famous for being stroked by American President Barack Obama.
Princess Olga of the Old Russian state was baptized in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, presumably in 957. She was the first ruler of Russia to be baptized.
Events took place at the Hagia Sophia Cathedral that gave rise to a split in the churches into two branches: Catholic and Orthodox. This happened in 1054, when during a service the envoy of the Pope presented the Patriarch with a letter of excommunication. The Patriarch thought for a couple of days and excommunicated the Pope's envoy. Since this all started.
Builders of the era of Ancient Rome were supposed to be generalists and rely on extensive knowledge. Thus, the architects Isidore of Miletus and Anfimius of Tralles were famous mechanical engineers: the first was a geometer, the second was a mathematician. Neither one nor the other had ever been involved in the construction of temples, but as a result they built the most famous religious building in the world.
The hitherto unheard-of luxury of a Christian church so confused the believers that they were in full confidence: the heavenly angels themselves showed Justinian I a model to follow during construction. The legends only added to the temple’s glory and have survived to this day.
The construction of the Hagia Sophia temple took three annual revenues of the Byzantine Empire , which led to a series of uprisings in the cities, suppressed with unprecedented cruelty: the unfortunate were crucified, claiming that they were going against the will of the Almighty.
The staff of the Hagia Sophia temple under the Byzantine emperors reached almost a thousand people .
Before the sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204, the Shroud of Turin ; it is currently kept in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.
On one of the slabs of Hagia Sophia there is a handprint that, according to legend, belongs to Mehmed II himself , the conqueror of Constantinople. According to legend, the Ottoman ruler rode into the temple on a horse, which, suddenly frightened by something, reared up. The Sultan, in order not to fall out of the saddle, had to lean his palm against the wall.
In 2006, in the wake of demands from Muslim activists in Turkey to return the mosque to the temple, the administration made minor concessions: a small room was allocated in the Hagia Sophia museum complex for the conduct of Muslim religious ceremonies by museum staff. Since July 2021, the museum has been converted into a mosque .
To decorate the temple 12 types of marble were used. The best marble was delivered for construction: Phrygian - pink, Egyptian - purple, Laconian - green, Carian - blood red and white, Lydian - pale green, Libyan - blue, Celtic - black and white.
On the walls and columns there are more than 70 Slavic inscriptions made by people from Kievan Rus. Inscriptions were scratched on the marble parapets of the cathedral by soldiers of the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Emperor in the Middle Ages.
Within the walls of Hagia Sophia there is the empty tomb of Dandolo, the man who led the crusaders in the assault on Constantinople.
Turkish and Greek sources, which talk about the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, indicate that on the eve of the fall of the city, the temple suddenly lit up with a strange and very bright fire, which rushed into the sky through the windows of the dome. It is believed that the guardian angel left his post that day.

Recommendations for visiting and inspection

General recommendations

It is best to come either when the museum opens in the early morning, or closer to closing, in the evening, because there are a lot of visitors during the day. It’s even better to visit the museum on weekdays, since on weekends, especially in high season, it’s simply not crowded. At the peak of visitation, a queue at the ticket office of several tens of meters is a common occurrence.
After purchasing a ticket, you must go through a security check: each tourist goes through a metal detector, and their backpack is checked, like at an airport, by x-ray.
Restoration has been going on inside for a long time : part of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul is covered from floor to ceiling with scaffolding. This spoils the impression somewhat.

There is a small queue at the entrance to the Hagia Sophia Museum.

Inspection sequence

We begin the inspection from the first floor . First we enter through the large gate into the first vestibule , and then into the second vestibule . (The narthex is an extension to the temple). Before entering the cathedral, pay attention to the “pit” dug to the left of the entrance. These are traces of an older building that was here even before the construction of the cathedral.
The first porch . This extension is devoid of finishing - the marble slabs have long been removed. On the left side of the narthex there is a stone bowl for the baptism of (5) infants and a large screen on which a film about the history of Hagia Sophia is shown (in English). There are chairs in front of the screen where you can sit and watch a movie. On the right side of the vestibule there is a huge sarcophagus (4) , opposite it there is a bell (3) , and then there is a souvenir shop .

Baptismal font in the first vestibule.

Second porch . This extension has retained the decoration from the moment of construction - the ceiling is lined with gold mosaics , and the walls are decorated with marble with a mirror pattern . On the left side of the second vestibule there is a staircase (ramp) (2) to the second floor. This staircase has no steps. This was done on purpose to make it easier to carry the Empress on a palanquin (special stretcher) to the second floor into the imperial box . There is also such a staircase on the right side of the vestibule, but it is closed. There, on the right side, there is a gate through which you can go out into the courtyard to the fountain for ablutions (6) . Above the gate, called the Beautiful Gate , is one of the most famous mosaics of the cathedral , which depicts the builder of the temple, Emperor Justinian, Our Lady Enthroned and Emperor Constantine, the founder of the city. The mosaic is visible as you move from the courtyard to the cathedral, and not from the cathedral to the courtyard. The second mosaic is located above the imperial gate (9) . It's called Jesus Pankrator. For detailed descriptions of all mosaics and information on where to find them, see below. The Imperial Gate (9) , according to legend, was remade from fragments of Noah's Ark . Previously, only the emperor himself could enter them, but now you can too. Those especially close to the emperor entered through the neighboring doors. Above the imperial gate on the second floor is the imperial box . More details will be written about him below.

Diagram of the Hagia Sophia Museum in Istanbul. Particularly interesting places in the cathedral are indicated in red.

Inner courtyard of the baptistery . You can get there through the second porch (go to the right side of it), then, immediately upon exiting, go through the door on the left. In the courtyard there is a stone font , which was moved directly from the baptistery premises. The font is large, with steps. Several people in adulthood were baptized (converted to faith) in it. Later, when Orthodoxy was quite widespread, smaller fonts (for infants) began to be used for baptism. see the small font (5) on the left side of the first vestibule. At one time, the courtyard and baptistery were used by the Turks to store oil for the lamps that illuminated the cathedral. Vessels for oil are placed along the walls of the baptistery courtyard.

Stone font in the courtyard of the baptismal church.

Baptistery (baptistery) . Now this is the tomb of Sultans Mustafa I and Ibrahim I. From the courtyard of the baptistery, you can see the baptistery itself through a glass door, but you cannot get there from the courtyard. You can visit the tomb for free, but to do this you need to leave the territory of the Hagia Sophia Museum and approach the cathedral from its right (eastern) side. For more details see Tombs of Hagia Sophia .

Vessels for storing oil in the courtyard of the baptismal church.

The main space of the cathedral . From the second porch through the imperial gate (9) we enter the main space of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
The central part of the first floor. We go to the very center of the cathedral, under the dome . Let me remind you that the diameter of the dome is 30 meters and the height is 56 meters . By the way, this dome was destroyed by an earthquake in 557 and then rebuilt. The dome is surrounded by 40 windows. Nowadays a sura from the Koran is written on the dome, but earlier, during Byzantine times, there was an image of Jesus here.

Six-winged seraph. The seraph's face is painted over with a polygonal star. The image size is 11 meters.

We look back at the imperial gate (9) . On the left and right we see two marble vases (11) brought from Pergamon. The entire space is illuminated by low-hanging chandeliers that were added under the Ottomans. At the top hang eight huge Islamic medallions (7.5 meters in diameter), on which the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the first caliphs Ali and Abu Bakr are written in Arabic letters. Without lowering our heads, we look above the medallions. It depicts four six-winged seraphim . In Christianity, a seraphim is an angel closest to God. The length of these images is 11 meters. Now only one face of the seraph is open, the others were closed under the Ottomans with designs of a polygonal star. Initially, faces were drawn in the form of an eagle and a lion, as well as the faces of angels.

Islamic medallions (7.5 meters). The inscriptions are made on the leather.

Now we look forward again and approach the fenced area. This place is called omphalion (12) and symbolizes the “Navel of the Earth” , that is, the “Center of the World” . In the central circle there used to be the throne of the emperor, and in small circles nearby stood his entourage. It was in this place that the coronation ceremony of the emperors took place. There is a version that the arrangement of circles has a secret encrypted meaning. Next to the omphalion there is a special elevation - something like a covered pavilion. This is the muezzin's stand (13) . It is intended for the mosque minister who calls to prayer from the minaret.
Let's move forward . Directly above we see a mosaic of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus . For a detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them in the cathedral, see below. Below the mosaic is the mihrab (15) , a decorated niche that shows the direction to Mecca. To the right of the mihrab there is a minbar (14) - a high platform with steps from where the imam reads his sermon.

Omphalion (Center of the World): Byzantine emperors were crowned here.

Left side of the first floor . On the left side there is a weeping column (10) , the lower part of which is covered with copper plates. Make a cherished wish, insert your thumb into a small recess and roll your palm three times in a circle, without lifting your palm from the surface of the copper sheets. It looks funny from the outside. According to legend, if you feel moisture, your wish will supposedly come true. This belief has been around for several centuries.
Right side of the first floor . The library (17) of Sultan Mahmud I is located here . The books were brought here during the reign of this sultan. Now they are on display in another museum, and you can only admire the patterned latticework of the arched windows.

Climb the stairs without steps (ramp) to the second floor of the cathedral.

Second floor . Now it's time to go up to the second floor. We go to the second porch and along the stairs (ramp) (2) we rise to the upper gallery. Once upon a time, the Empress was carried here, lifted into the imperial box. Walk along the perimeter and look at the lower part of the cathedral from above. At the same time, look for inscriptions made in Scandinavian runes . Look for them on the parapets on the south side of the cathedral. Runes are the writing system of the ancient Germans. These inscriptions were scratched by Varangian mercenaries who served the Byzantine emperor for hire.
In the right (south) wing of the second floor, find the empty tomb of Doge Enrico Dandolo , the ruler of Venice. This is a niche in the floor, which is covered with a stone lid with the name of the Doge. In fact, the tomb is empty - the remains of the ruler of Venice are not in it. Enrico Dandolo became famous for capturing Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade at the age of 97, almost blind. Ironically, his tomb is located in the very cathedral in which she personally took part in the looting. According to legend, Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (Fatih) ordered the bones of the former ruler of Venice to be taken out and thrown out to be eaten by dogs.

Scandinavian runes carved on stone parapets.

Opposite the tomb is the mosaic of the Last Judgment . The other two mosaics are located on the far side of the south wing. And four more mosaics are in the northern part of the second floor. Read below for a detailed description of all the mosaics and information on where to find them in the cathedral.
The imperial box was often mentioned here . It was located on the second floor directly above the imperial gate (9) . The Empress and her ladies-in-waiting sat in this box during services. During the period of early Christianity, women and men were separated from each other in the cathedral.