Istanbul, Turkey CNN — Whether you’re a believer or not, visiting Hagia Sophia is a spiritual ... and Byzantine rulers are juxtaposed with Islamic calligraphy, also known as Hüsn-i Hat ...

Throughout its centuries-long existence, the Hagia Sophia has been a place of worship for many different religions and ...

Following a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Istanbul earlier this spring, the reinforcement and restoration of the celebrated ...

Islamic Treasures from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston” exhibit currently showing. The plaque that caught my eye praises the Ottoman Empire for having turned the Hagia Sophia church into a mosque.

Sultan Mehmed II transformed Hagia Sophia into a mosque, marking a new chapter in its history. Under Ottoman rule, Christian mosaics were covered, and minarets and Islamic elements were added.

Hagia Sophia, a major tourist attraction, has been the scene of Islam-linked activities in recent years. In 2018, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan controversially recited a verse from the Quran in ...

Whether you’re a believer or not, visiting Hagia Sophia is a spiritual experience ... where Christian mosaics of saints and Byzantine rulers are juxtaposed with Islamic calligraphy, also known as Hüsn ...