Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia, a historic Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica that was the largest cathedral in the world for more than nine centuries until the Turks conquered the city in 1453, is now a museum after being transformed into one in 1935. It was built by Emperor Justinian in 537. The dome is primarily responsible for Hagia Sophia's international fame. The church's nave is dominated by the dome of Hagia Sophia. The dome measures 33 meters (108 feet) in diameter and is made of brick and mortar.

Up until 1931, the building was used as a mosque before becoming off-limits to visitors for four years. The structure, which was reopened in 1935 as a museum under the secular Republic of Turkey, is currently the most popular tourist destination in Turkey. The Council of State revoked the museum's establishment approval in July 2020, and the Hagia Sophia was categorized as a mosque. The Hagia Sophia's waqf, donated by Sultan Mehmed, had designated the location a mosque; proponents of the judgment contended the Hagia Sophia was the sultan's private property, making the 1934 ruling illegal under Ottoman and Turkish law. The Turkish opposition, UNESCO, the World Council of Churches, the International Association of Byzantine Studies, and several other world leaders all denounced this redesignation.

Location: Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey