(66 votes) 
(53 votes) 
A visit to Istanbul should include a visit to Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Muzesi). Built between 532 and 537 A.D., the Byzantine structure has undergone many changes both outside and inside. Changes under the Ottoman rule included adding the minrab, minbar, and four minarets. The architecure is fabulous and the interior includes remnants of the history of Hagia Sophia’s uses. The... more
Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), Istanbul
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Traveler Advice on Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya)
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By: Peekaboo67Posted: May 26, 2007
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Professional Advice (26) Title Source “Ayasofya” Frommer's “Intriguing Istanbul” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (free registration required) “Modernity or Tradition: Istanbul at a Crossroad Finds Its Own Way” New York Times (free registration required) “Istanbul: Fresh as the Morning, or Rooted in Centuries Past” New York Times (free registration required) “Hagia Sophia: Perfect Space” Turkey Travel Planner “Turkish delights in Istanbul” msnbc.msn.com / Frommer's “A structure holy to two religions is now a museum” The Cultured Traveler “The Call of Istanbul” Travel Watch “Make an Architectural Pilgrimage” Travel + Leisure “Looking to explore West and East? Try exotic Turkey” SignOnSanDiego.com/Associated Press “Ten ways to get the best out of Istanbul” Telegraph Group Limited (free registration required) “Pick the world's new wonders” Telegraph Group Limited (free registration required) “Instant weekend: Istanbul” timesonline.co.uk / Times Newspapers Ltd. “Timeless attraction” Sydney Morning Herald / The Sun-Herald “Istanbul” Boston.com / Boston Globe “Sultan's delight” Sydney Morning Herald “Byzantium rhapsody” Sydney Morning Herald “What's doing in; Istanbul” New York Times (free registration required) “Rising with sun casts light on Istanbul's pre-tourist charm” sfgate.com / San Francisco Chronicle “Istanbul” wordtravels.com / Globe Media Ltd. “Images of Istanbul” Sally's Place “Istanbul, Turkey” Luxury Experience Magazine “Turkey and the Turquoise Coast” SoftAdventure.net “Istanbul” Business Traveler “Inestimable Istanbul, Turkey” foodvacation.com “Istanbul--Gateway to the Orient” WomenOf.com -
Web Comments from Travelers (57) Title Source “The Aya Sofia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia I” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia II” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia : wisdom from christianism to islam” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofya” VirtualTourist.com “Church of Wisdom” VirtualTourist.com “Holy Wisdom” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofya” VirtualTourist.com “...Ayasofya” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofya” VirtualTourist.com “Aya” VirtualTourist.com “AYASOFYA” VirtualTourist.com “ayasofia” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofya (2)” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofia” VirtualTourist.com “Aya Sofya, St Sophia, Hagia Sophia.....” VirtualTourist.com “Where to visit.. Day 1 Continues..” VirtualTourist.com “the entrance of Agia Sofia” VirtualTourist.com “The interior of Agia Sofia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia Museum” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia, make a wish” VirtualTourist.com “In the Mind of Holy Wisdom” VirtualTourist.com “St Sophia's Other Icons” VirtualTourist.com “The Belly of St Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “AYA SOFYA - THE HAGIA SOPHIA” VirtualTourist.com “A Closer View of Holy Wisdom” VirtualTourist.com “Dome” VirtualTourist.com “Even Closer to Holy Wisdom” VirtualTourist.com “The Pulpit of Constantinople” VirtualTourist.com “Agia Sofia” VirtualTourist.com “Santa Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Inside the Mosque Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “The Hagia Sophia Mosque” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sofya or Aya Sofya...” VirtualTourist.com “Haghia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Ayia Sofia” VirtualTourist.com “In my opinion the greatest of...” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia, today a museum,...” VirtualTourist.com “Ruins from various...” VirtualTourist.com “Take the time to ENJOY Aya Sofya” VirtualTourist.com “Aya Sofya” VirtualTourist.com “Aya Sofya” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia inside” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofia” VirtualTourist.com “Ayasofia” VirtualTourist.com “HAGIA SOPHIA” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia” VirtualTourist.com “Inside the Haghia Sophia...” VirtualTourist.com “Probably Istanbul's most...” VirtualTourist.com “When in Istanbul you have to...” VirtualTourist.com “inside the AYA SOFIA it's not...” VirtualTourist.com “Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia)” VirtualTourist.com
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating:
TripAdvisor Popularity Index:
#2 of 129 attractions in Istanbul
Traveler Description:
This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time...
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This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century.
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Attraction type: Architectural building,
Religious site,
History museum,
Historic site
Address: Sultanahmet
Eminonu District Istanbul
Turkey
Eminonu District Istanbul
Turkey
Tel: 0212 522 1750
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TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews
Jul 10, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful
This is one of the most beautiful places and stunning pieces of architecture I have ever seen. Although the outside of the building is amazing, it only teases at the grandness and architectural domes. Once you step inside, it is absolutely inspiring! The scaffolding up over half of the vast central dome area only slightly detracted from the experience. The... more
Jun 14, 2008
2/2 found this review helpful
What a stunning piece of architecture! Aya Sofya, once the Haghia Sophia cathedral, then a mosque, and now a museum, is simply awe-inspiring. This was a superb space, and rich in history. There was a great deal of scaffolding up to the main dome, which will probably stay for a while, but the site was still beautiful. Make sure you... more
Jun 10, 2008
0/1 found this review helpful
Magnificent and beautiful. Stay away from the street hawkers in the surrounding area. more
Apr 14, 2008
2/3 found this review helpful
ıt ıs great monument.one of the best ın the worl wıth ıt's fantastic hıstory.but the ımportant thınks ıs better to vısıt ıt wıth a guıde,othervıse you mıss alot about hagıa sophıa.. more
Apr 5, 2008
3/5 found this review helpful
The Hagia Sophia is one of the most incredible buildings in the world! First consider this, the church is 1500 years old and is mostly intact. Then, for 1000 years it was the largest church in the world. I visited twice and wish I could have spent more time there. There was, and probably always will be, restoration work going... more
Apr 1, 2008
6/6 found this review helpful
Stunning, small admission fee. Guides wait at the gates to offer their services, though we just used our guidebook and felt it was sufficient. It’s giant and better from the inside. Be sure to go to the upper floor and walk all the way back on the right side to see the mosaics. Allow at least 45 minutes here. Photos... more
Jul 11, 2007
4/13 found this review helpful
I expected much more. Interior is devastated. Renovating works everywhere. Best church in the world? I don't think so... more
Jan 27, 2007
11/14 found this review helpful
I loved the mosaics! It's such a pity that many of them were disfigured because when the Ottomans turned the church into a mosque, they disfigured these mosaics. There are restoration works ongoing and scaffolding may be in certain places. There are still some mosaics - some beautiful pieces on the Mezzanine level. One piece is said to look at... more
Aug 11, 2006
12/16 found this review helpful
At the time of my visit to the mosque it was being renovated and there was scaffolding everywhere so I was unable to get a clear shot of the dome. Even though that was a disappointment the memory of its grandeur will always leave an impression on me. The only bad thing that I can say about visiting Turkey (which... more
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Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya): Management Resources
Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya) Address
Sultanahmet | Eminonu District, Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: 0212 522 1750
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