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Haghia Sophia or St. Sophia lies near the famous Hippodrome in Istanbul, formerly Constantinopole, right in the middle of the Golden Horn, the narrow inlet that houses the most beautiful monuments in the city, including the Topaki Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans. The church, dedicated to Divine Wisdom ( its name in Greek), was built by Emperor Justinian in A.D. 532-37 after a violent popular insurrection had caused a fire that destroyed the preceding basilica. It was the largest Christian church in the world until 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks and it was converted into mosque, complete with minarets and the furnishings typical of the Islamic religion.

Upon entering the church one is struck by the magnificent mosaics that decorate the half domes around the majestic central vault. The walls, on the other hand, are covered with frescoes and small, multicolored tesserae representing stylized flowers and geometric motifs that produce a kaleidoscopic effect. Indeed, the decoration of the interior of Haghia Sophia seems to prefigure the later prohibition of illustrations of human figures during the iconoclastic period, as the geometric patterns alternate only with the recurrent monogram of the emperor. On the sides, elegant Arabic script celebrates the names of Allah and Muhammad on four enormous oilcloth medallions. The central dome is 181 ft high and has  a 106 ft diameter, an exceptional result if we stop to think that this basilica was constructed in the 6th century.

Haghia Sofia, now the Ayasofya Museum, is considered one of the most importnant monuments in the world, the symbol of the golden age of the Byzantine Empire and of the syncretism of Christianity and Islam in the area that is the cultural hinge between the two faiths. The square central space with its alternating sinuous and square niches is dominated by the main dome, crowned by forty windows that create an almost surreal play of light. Along this area there are large side aisles and monumental galleries. At the entrance are the large narthex and atrium with massive iron doors and vast porticoes used by the penitents and catechumens.

The overall effect of the edifice is spectacular, and to this day the elaborate carving of the capitals, the dazzling colors of the mosaics, the contrasts of the smooth marble, opalescent porphyry and precious stones that breaks up the light into a thousand shafts - all make for  an unforgettable, thrilling experience. This is one of Istanbul's greatest sights and if you travel to Turkey and Istanbul has to be in your " Must See " list.