These are the new rules for entering Hagia Sophia

Great Hagia Sophia Mosque ,Ayasofya-e Kebir Camii-e Serifi) is one of the symbols of Turkey, and is the center of the city of Istanbul. Anyone who visits here should spend a few hours getting to know it, as it is a reflection of its history, as it is one of the best preserved buildings of the Byzantine Empire, and It was the largest church in the world built in 1,000 years.

The mosque as we know it now, known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, was built by Emperor Justinian in the year 537.It was later converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II (Mehmet the Conqueror) in 1453, later declared a museum by Atatürk in 1935, and converted into a functioning mosque in 2020. All these changes have made Hagia Sophia a survivor, able to withstand looting, fire, etc., both in the Byzantine and Ottoman empires and in the modern era, where it remains essential. turkiye,

Certainly, it was not expected that its religious character would be relegated to the background because of its tourist interest. Every year, thousands of tourists want to see this architectural gem, its doors, its colors, its play of light… Visitation is projected to increase from 3.7 million in 2019 to 13.6 million in 2022Therefore, measures had to be taken to protect it. take note!

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Hagia Sophia Mosque, Istanbul, Türkiye,Juan Carlos Munoz / Alamy Stock Photo

What can you see in Santa Sofia

From January 15 this yearTourists and non-Muslims will not be able to access the ground floor of Hagia Sophia, dedicated to prayer (declaration of worship, This step is not being taken for the first time, but has been done since it was restored as a mosque 4 years ago.

As stated on their official website, visitors – from the age of 8 – must pass through the ticket office and pay 25 euros (or 850 TL), and enter through a recently installed temporary door located at the front . Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III. Both the entrance gate and the ticket office can be easily found by approaching the Imperial Gate of the Topkapi Palace Museum, also known as the “Bab-e Humayun” Gate.