Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is one of the world's most extraordinary buildings, a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral converted to a mosque by the Ottomans in 1453 and now functioning as a mosque once more. Its vast dome, 55 meters above the floor, appears to float on a halo of light through 40 windows, creating an effect that dazzled Byzantine worshippers and continues to astonish visitors 1,500 years later. The surviving Byzantine mosaics and Islamic calligraphic medallions embody Istanbul's layered civilizational heritage.

• Categoryreligious
• Opening HoursMonday: Open 24 hours; Tuesday: Open 24 hours; Wednesday: Open 24 hours; Thursday: Open 24 hours; Friday: Open 24 hours; Saturday: Open 24 hours; Sunday: Open 24 hours