Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, Hagia Sophia was built in just five years and opened in 537. Over its nearly 1,500-year history, it has served as a Christian cathedral, a mosque for more than 400 years, and a museum for almost a century. In 2020, it once again became an active mosque.

The vast dome, about 32 meters across, appears to float above the building, supported by forty arched windows around its base. Daylight streams through them, making the walls between the windows seem to disappear and giving the impression that the dome hangs from the heavens by a golden chain. Inside, exquisite Byzantine mosaics share the space with monumental Islamic calligraphy panels.

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