After visiting the Blue Mosque, we made our way across a park to the
Hagia Sophia, one of the most unique religious buildings in the world. The Hagia Sophia began its life as an Eastern Orthodox church in 360, and it remained so (except for 50 years or so as a Roman Catholic church in the 1200's) until the Ottomans conquered Byzantium in the 1400's. It was converted into a mosque and stayed a mosque until it became a museum in 1935. This building has Christian and Islamic details throughout its interior and exterior and is quite amazing to see; the typical Arabic calligraphy is right next to tiled Christian mosaics of Mary and Jesus. We were all very impressed to say the least.
The Hagia Sophia--Byzantine and Ottoman architecture in one
Christian symbols out in the courtyard
Tile work
The dome
Looking WAY up at the ceiling
Islamic and Christian, one next to the other
One of the 4 seraphim
When a building is nearly 1000 years old, some upkeep is required.
More beautiful tilework
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