Popular Attractions in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

Built in 532 as the world’s largest place of worship, the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) shifts its identity with the times but never loses its grandeur. Converted from a church to a mosque during the Ottoman period and becoming a museum in 1935, the pink-hued Old City building is part of Istanbul’s Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include its huge central dome and Byzantine architecture.