Hagia Sophia: A church, museum or mosque?

The grand Hagia Sophia is one of the most culturally significant monuments in the city of Istanbul. Recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO, the Hagia Sophia has lived through centuries, empires and disasters to tell the tale of time.

This landmark was initially constructed as a church, to serve as a pivotal point of worship for the Christian world under the east Roman Empire. While it was subsequently converted to a mosque, a museum and now back to a mosque again, the Hagia Sophia Church has a rich backstory.

The Hagia Sophia Church was transformed into a mosque in 1453 under the Ottoman’s and then into a museum in 1935 under the Republic of Turkey.

The Hagia Sophia remained a museum until 2020 as one of the most famous and iconic travel destinations in the world. Today, it has been re-designated a mosque in Istanbul.

Merry Christmas friends.

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