A poll conducted in June by Istanbul Economy Research showed 46.9% of respondents favored Hagia Sophia being opened to Muslim worship while 38.8% said it should remain a museum. 13% said it should ...

When the Ottomans arrived in Istanbul, they converted Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Esra Bilgin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images. Holy aura: In 2020 the building was turned back into a mosque.

Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in A.D. 537, Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque with the 1453 Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. But Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding leader of the ...

Built in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia is a highlight of any visit to Istanbul. Skipping the US Travel 2025 🌴 This country's safest A spotlight on America U.S. Politics Sports Entertainment ...

When the Ottomans arrived in Istanbul, they converted Hagia Sophia to a mosque. Esra Bilgin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images. Holy aura: In 2020 the building was turned back into a mosque.