Hagia Sophia Review

When you come to Istanbul, the Blue Mosque can be replaced by many mosques such as Suleiman Mosque; Independence Street is a commercial pedestrian street full of swindlers, which is not essentially different from other pedestrian streets in the world; Big Bazaar and spice markets are traditional shopping places, often with shopkeepers greeting you in Chinese, Japanese, etc., and nothing more than other buses in the Middle East. Zaha is more international; however, the only and irreplaceable attraction in the world is St. Sophia Church, which is absolutely a must-see attraction. The 6th century St. Sophia Church is located in the old city of Istanbul, opposite the Blue Mosque in a square. It was the earliest and most typical Byzantine building, the Coronation Temple of the Byzantine Emperor, and was once the largest church in the world. Saint Sophia means "sacred wisdom" and the church was built by Justinian, one of the greatest emperors of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian proudly declared after the completion of the church, "Solomon, I surpass you." In 1453, when the Ottoman Army broke through Constantinople, Mohammed II apparently did not want to take over a ruin and a dead city by himself. He liked the church, covered the original Byzantine murals with mortar, and converted the Orthodox Church into a mosque (the four minarets outside, of course, were added). So there are many elements of the coexistence of the two religions inside and outside the church. Constantinople's last fall was during the Fourth Crusade. This was done by the Governor of Venice, Dendoro, the Governor whom Professor "Hell" Rirandon sought, who took the bones of St. Lucia from Constantinople (legendary for longevity) and the bronze carvings of Colts and horses and transported them back to Venice. Look for a tombstone that can be found on the ground on the second floor of the church. The basement of the church is empty for drainage until it reaches the nearby basement bathroom. To be honest, compared with the magnificent Catholic churches in Europe, this church is really primitive. Perhaps it feels like a crude, cold castle in the dark times of Europe. Some of the walls and floors of the passages are made of bluestone, which has never been ground down. And because the Orthodox objects were removed and Muslims banned idolatry, the whole church seemed empty. Tourists who simply look at the scenery without a guide may be a little disappointed. However, tourists who are relatively familiar with and interested in history and culture will be awed, looking back on history from the past to the present, and observing details in detail. The left side of the hall has been sealed and repaired for many years, and it also has some influence on the view. If you live in an old city in Europe, you can basically follow Google Maps on foot. Buses can take the tram T1 to Sultanahmet station. The tram has the English name of the station on the screen. Don't worry. Or just stare out of the car and see a big square. There will be many tourist buses parked in the square. Entrance ticket" 40 lira. It is suggested to buy 85 lira Museum pass, which is valid for 5 days. It is effective for the old palace and its rear palace, but not for the underground palace and Galataris. The Old Palace with the Imperial Palace = 65 lira. Visiting churches + the Old Palace with the Imperial Palace earns money, not to mention that there are many museums that can be accessed free of charge. If it's a Turkish tourist who suggests to buy a 185 lira national pass, it's valid for 15 days.