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18 April 2011

Istanbul: Aya Sofya

This structure is really amazing, and Wikipedia's description is far better than mine could be:

Hagia Sophia
 (from the GreekἉγία Σοφία, "Holy Wisdom"; LatinSancta Sophia orSancta SapientiaTurkishAya Sofya) is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in IstanbulTurkey. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader established Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

Our pictures aren't that great because the space is so dark, but it gives it a certain mystique.

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