While Hagia Sophia, a microcosm of the city’s history, should still be on your travel itinerary, the new charge could be motivation to explore some of Istanbul’s lesser-visited mosques.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday formally reconverted Istanbul's sixth-century iconic Hagia Sophia into a mosque and declared it open to Muslim worship, hours after a high court ...

The Hagia Sophia, originally built as a church in the sixth century, is an architectural site that reflects the various religious changes the Mediterranean region faced over the years.

The Ottomans turned Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 1453 when they took Constantinople. Now it is a public museum and a highlight of any visit to Istanbul. Take a tour with the slideshow above.

Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia is a mosque again. Do Turkish citizens want Erdogan to restore the caliphate? Even if Erdogan wanted to restore the ancient caliphate, he would need public support to ...

By transforming Hagia Sophia back into a mosque. Erdogan may also be seeking to leave “his permanent imprint” on Istanbul - the city of his birth and where he served as mayor, Cagaptay added.

ISTANBUL (RNS) — Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed Chora Church's rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

Istanbul, located on the shores of the Bosphorus, is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world. It is full of white ...

The Hagia Sophia of Istanbul is no stranger to change -- through the centuries the city's architectural jewel has gone from church to mosque to museum, back to mosque again.

Until this week, entry to the mosaic-spangled religious building was free. Now, authorities have introduced a €25 fee to help fund its conservation. While Hagia Sophia, a microcosm of the city’s ...

ISTANBUL (RNS) — Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed Chora Church's rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.