The Hagia Sophia represents a pinnacle of Byzantine architecture and a unique record of shifting religious and political identities. Originally commissioned by Emperor Justinian I and completed in 537 AD, the building remained the world’s largest cathedral for nearly a millennium before its conversion into a mosque in 1453 and its current status as a functional grand mosque.
The Hagia Sophia Grand MosqueClick to open side panel for more information
is situated in the Sultanahmet district, the historic heart of Istanbul. It stands at the intersection of European and Asian influences, occupying a high point on the First Hill of the city overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
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