Photos

Hi everybody. Another interesting and also amazing wonder from İstanbul. Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya. First descriptive info: Famous for its impressive size, remarkable architecture and beautiful mosaics and frescoes, the massive ochre-coloured domed structure known as Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul’s most popular attractions. It was commissioned as a cathedral in the 6th century and remained the most important church in Christianity for over 900 years. In the 15th century Mehmet II conquered the city and converted it into a mosque, adding the minarets and fountains. It functioned as such for the next 481 years until the founding of the secular Turkish Republic in 1934 when it was declared a museum. Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest Byzantine buildings in the world, and the vast interior, with its huge soaring dome, is extraordinary. The interior contains different features from its time as a cathedral and then as a mosque, including incredible Byzantine mosaics, icons and marble columns, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions on the dome from the Ottoman period.

Address: Sultanahmet Square; Telephone: (212) 522 1750; Transport: Sultanahmet tram stop; Opening time: Open daily except Mondays from 9.30am to 4.30pm
(From www.wordtravels.com)

And a brief history.

>360 - Original building completed.
>404 - Destroyed by fire during riots.
>415 - Second building, known as the Theodosian Church, completed.
>532 - Destroyed during the Nika Revolt.
>537 - Third building erected. Also known as the Justinian Church.
>The mosque has the largest dome of the ancient world. It is 100 feet in diameter and 180 feet high.
>More than four acres of gold leaf line the inside of the building.
>The building's main chamber is 250 feet long and 230 feet wide.
>The buttresses surrounding the building were added after the 537 earthquake.
>The remains of the Theodosian Church are visible near the museum entrance. They were discovered by a German archæologist in 1935.
>According to legend, Saint Gregory the Miracle Worker's powers to heal live on in one of the building's pillars. It had to be encased in brass to protect it from the faithful, who have made a hole in the metal and worn a hole into the stone.
(Taken from www.glasssteelandstone.com)

However, the photo does not belong to original Hagia Sophia. This is a miniature version of it. You can visit miniature versions of wonders located in Turkey at Miniaturk(Halic, İstanbul). You can also visit Miniaturk online at here, please click


I applied post processing techniques on the photo. Crop and explosion. That is obvious, I think. Anyway, see you again. Bye.