Hagia Sophia

Built between 532–537, during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, when the city was Constantinople, the Hagia Sofia had the largest dome in the world for a thousand years until it was eclipsed, in 1436, by Florence’s Duomo. Once one of the most important Christian churches, safeguarding religious treasures such as fragments of the True Cross and various relics of saints, it was ransacked by the Crusaders in 1204 (and converted to an Islamic mosque more than two centuries later, in 1453). Inside you can view fascinating Christian mosaics. Indagare members can contact the bookings team to arrange for a private guide.