Istanbul Hostels

Hagia Sofia Basilica. Hagia Sofia Basilica, or the Basilica of the God's Wisdom, was built in the 6th century by the order of Imperator Justinian, when during the insurrection the previous basilica on this place was ruined. They say that during the inauguration of the basilica Justinian said:' I've surpassed you, Solomon!' Primordially Hagia Sofia was an orthodox church, but later then it served as a mosque. 20 years passed after the basilica was built and in 558 the cupola came down. This mistake in the calculations cost a lot the architects: they were beheaded.

The cupola, which one can see nowadays, was created in 563. It's a real masterpiece: along its perimeter the windows are located, so it creates the impression that the cupola is just flying. During 9000 years Hagia Sofia was the main cathedral in Constantinople (the former name of Istanbul). In 1453 by the order of Mehmet the Conquer the Orthodox Church was turned into a mosque. The minarets were added, the mosaics were hidden under the thick layer of plaster, due to that they were saved till nowadays.
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