.jpg)
The world-renowned Hagia Sophia, from the Greek words Ἁγία Σοφία, or “Holy Wisdom”, is a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica. It later became an imperial mosque, and now stands as a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its construction in 537 until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from May 29, 1453 until 1931. It was then secularized and opened as a museum on February 1, 1935. Today, the museum serves as one of the most visited spots in the vibrant city of Istanbul. It’s large, beautiful and is a living piece of history. Any visitor in Turkey should make a point of stopping-in.
