Musaums in Istanbul

Hagia Sopia Museum in Istanbul
Open Time: 09:30
Closing Time: 16:30
Closed Day: Monday
Address: Sultanahmet square
City: Istanbul
Country: Turkey
Phone: (county code:+90 city code: 212 ) 522 17 50

Hagia Sophia is a masterpiece with a synthesis of Occident and the Orient, a unique example of architectural applications and is considered to be the one and only example in this respect. It is among the most important monuments have survived to today, now belonging to the history of architecture. Hagia Sopia was used as a church for 916 years and as mosque 481 years. It has been a museum since 1935. 

Byzantine historians claimed that the first Hagia Sophia was built during the reign of Emperor Constantinus the 1st (324 - 337). This structure which had the plan of a basilica and a wooden roof burnt down during a rebillion. No remains of the structure have survived up to now.l Emperor Theodosius the 2nd had the building reconstructed for the second time and reopened it in 415. This structure which also had the plan of a basilica, burnt down in 532 during the Nika rebellion. Some remains from this structure were uncovered during the excavations carried out in 1936. These are footboards. pillars, crests and other architectural items. 

emperor Justinianus ( 527 - 565 ) wished to constuct a church large then Hagia Sophia and had Isiodoroos from Miletos and Anthemios from Tralles build the Hagia Sophiathat we see today. The construction of Hagia Sophia was started on the 23rd of december 532 and was was completed on the 27th of December 537.  It consists of two lateral rooms and outer and interior narthexes. The interior room dimension is 100 x 70 m and is covered with a dome with a height of 57 m and a diameter of 30.31 m. Dhe mosaics of Hagia Sophia as well as its architecture are of great importance. the oldest mosaics are those that.