The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque—Istanbul’s iconic marvel of Byzantine architecture—boasts centuries ... Most urgent is the preservation of its iconic dome, the underside of which is covered ...

Tourists flock en masse to the Hagia Sophia for its stunning architecture, glorious interior views and historical significance. Built between 532 and 537, the building was a church for nearly a ...

But Turkish officials say Christian emblems, including mosaics of the Virgin Mary which adorn its soaring golden dome, will not be removed. Making changes at Hagia Sophia is profoundly symbolic.

Until the completion of Istanbul's Blue Mosque in 1616 the Hagia Sophia was the main mosque in the city, and its architecture inspired builders of the Blue Mosque and several others around the ...

Sultan Ahmed I was determined to build a mosque that rivaled the nearby Hagia Sophia, and most would ... Visitors say this mosque offers stunning architecture inside and out.