Over its 2,500 year history Istanbul, Turkey, has been the capital of three empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Today the ancient quarter of Sultanahmet is juxtaposed against the skyscrapers of Sisli at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
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Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, started out as a Greek Orthodox church in 537 AD before becoming an Islamic mosque in 1453. It was converted into a museum in 1934 but became a mosque again in 2020. Tourists can visit upon payment of 25 euro.
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Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, had the first pendentive dome in history. It remained the largest masonry dome in the world from 563 to 1436 when it was overtaken by Florence Cathedral.
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Huge 19th century calligraphic roundels with religious messages hang before the semi-domes of Hagia Sophia (537 AD) in Istanbul, Turkey.
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An 18th century gilded lodge in Hagia Sophia at Istanbul, Turkey, allowed the sultan to safely visit the mosque unseen.
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