The Hagia Sophia or Aya Sophia, freely translated to ‘Holy Wisdom’, is an ancient cathedral which was built in Istanbul. The huge cathedral is located in the European part of the old city centre. In addition, the beautiful building is part of the UNESCO world heritage list. the
But before the Hagia Sophia on that list ended up, had the cathedral and a pretty bumpy journey. Similarly, there are two other buildings prior to the construction of the cathedral. After the second version in 532 destroyed by fire, decided the then emperor Justinian I to the building, larger and more impressive: out of the dust of the church was resurrected in 537 a real cathedral. It was the pride of the Byzantine Empire and the associated architectural style.
Such a small thousand years later, the city was Constantinople, the old city, conquered by the Ottomans. The Hagia Sophia in 1453 and renamed the Hagia Sophia and the cross on the central dome of the cathedral was replaced by a half-moon.