We woke up early in the morning and headed straight for the Hagia Sophia. This was our main destination for the day, and knowing how big the crowds were, we didn’t want to take any chances. When we got there for the opening, we barely had to wait to get in, so we were able to enter one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders, beating the crowds.
Luckily, we had a great guide who told us about the building in amazing detail. As I stood under the huge dome, you could almost feel the weight of a thousand years of history. We learned that this was the third church on this site: Emperor Justinian had it built between 532 and 537, and for almost a thousand years it was the largest cathedral in Christendom.
Our guide showed us the treasures of the interior one by one. He told us that the huge central dome was a marvel in its time. It was built using a technique that makes it look as if it were not resting on the walls, but descending from the sky.
It was special to see the huge, 7.5-meter-diameter calligraphic circular plates made of leather and wood. These were placed during the Ottoman era and the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and the first caliphs can be read on them.
We learned that the columns and colorful marble covering of the temple came from all corners of the Roman Empire, bringing material from the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and Egyptian porphyry to proclaim the emperor’s power.
By the time we left the building, we were shocked to see hundreds of people already queuing in front of the entrance in the scorching sun, waiting to get in. It was then that I truly realized how lucky we were to leave early. Moreover, as it turned out later, a few weeks after our visit, they charged tourists for entry, so we were able to see it during the lucky period when it was free and more freely accessible.
