One of the sights I was most looking forward to was Haghia Sophia, and it did not disappoint. As with the mosques, the sheer scale of the building is hard to convey in words and pictures. Even with scaffolding blocking half the central area, the scale is extraordinary.
The Church of Holy Wisdom was inaugurated by Emperor Justinian in 537. Just let that sink in for a moment. FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN.
(Note – we purchased a Museum Pass for 85 TL each. This pass allows access to a number of sights within a 72 hour window and allows pass holders to bypass entrance lines. Read more about it here: http://www.muze.gov.tr/museum_pass)
Entrance Through the Imperial Gate
Centuries of footsteps have worn down the marble threshold.
Coronation Square – Where Emperors were Crowned
Marble Ramp Leading to Upper Galleries
This scaffolding has been in place for years – note the layers of dust.
Again with the guidebook!
Look carefully and see the dips and cracks in the marble flooring.
If Haghia Sophia had been the only site we saw in Istanbul, the whole trip would have still been worthwhile. Magnificent and depressing all at the same time. The sheer amount of repairs needed, obvious even to our untrained eyes, are enormous.
After we returned to our hotel, I found an article from the Dec. 2008 Smithsonian about the preservation efforts. One person quoted in the article echoed my thought that a big earthquake will bring the whole building down. (I would link to the article, but I’m unsure of copyright issues).
Many problems must be overcome regarding repairs – the intertwining of Christian and Islam faiths in this single building one of the largest. Sadly, I’m not sure how much longer it will stand. So go see it, sooner rather than later.