Istanbul
Ayasofya, Hagia Sophia, is Justinian's great building in the heart of the old city. Its huge dome can be seen clearly from the garden of Sultanahmet Meydanı.
Fifteen centuries of history
Emperor Justinian had it built between 532 and 537. For centuries it was the largest church in the world. After 1453 it became a mosque, and slender towers were added around it.
From 1935 it was a museum, and since 2020 it has been a mosque again. During prayer times we speak softly and leave room for those who come to pray: we admire it from here.
What to see from outside
The central dome is more than 30 metres wide. Below the dome runs a ring of windows, which lets in light all around by day. The half domes, domes cut in half, stretch the space towards the east and the west.
The walls are pink and yellow, a colour they were given in the 1800s. The towers are not all alike: they were built at different times.
Water before prayer
In the courtyard stands the şadırvan, the covered pavilion with taps for washing before prayer. Those who pray wash their hands, face and feet in running water. Even today these water points are among the liveliest places around mosques.
