Built by the Romans 1,500 years ago, the Hagia Sophia was the biggest church in the world. No expense was spared: it contained coloured marble from around the Roman Empire and nearly 10,000 square ...

There are some important things to keep in mind before you visit. First, the Hagia Sophia is now a working mosque. You will need to remove your shoes before stepping onto the building's carpet and ...

Al-Monitor is an award-winning media outlet covering the Middle East, valued for its independence, diversity and analysis. It is read widely by US, international and Middle East decision makers at the ...

Turkey's Hagia Sophia will open to visitors outside prayer ... Erdogan, who said the first Muslim prayers would begin in Hagia Sofia on Jul 24, has insisted the building will be open to all ...

The Turkish Ministry of Culture is undertaking a cleaning program of the underground spaces of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, aiming to make them accessible to the public. The project includes the ...