Hagia Sophia
The present Hagia Sophia is built on the site of a great church built by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine in 360 AD. It was destroyed by fire in 404 AD and a stronger building was opened in 416 AD. This building was destroyed by anti-imperial rebels in 532 and the present structure was completed in 537.Mosaics of religious scenes and people were removed in the Iconoclastic Era (726 AD) and replaced with simple cross shapes. When this era ended in 843 Hagia Sophia was redecorated with frescoes and mosaics, many with golden tiles, only for them to be covered over with lime when the building became a mosque in the 1450's. This actually preserved the works of art until they were restored by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the building opened as a museum in 1935.An amazing building - definitely a must see.





































