Turkey Istanbul Hagia Sophia Magnet

Hagia Sophia, or the Church of Holy Wisdom, is a monumental architectural marvel located in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally built as a Greek Orthodox cathedral in the 6th century, it was later converted into a mosque, then a museum, and most recently, back into a mosque. Its massive dome, a masterpiece of Byzantine engineering, was considered the largest in the world for centuries. The interior is richly decorated with mosaics and marble columns, reflecting the changing cultural and religious influences throughout its long and complex history. Hagia Sophia stands as a powerful symbol of the intersection of civilizations and a testament to the enduring legacy of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.