The current Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century when Constantinople — as Istanbul was then called — was the heart of ...

Byzantine architecture has had a profound influence across the world, including in the Balkans, Middle East, and North ...

For almost 1,000 years, it was a Christian basilica, the largest and most spectacular temple not just in Constantinople, but in the entire Byzantine Empire. "Hagia Sophia is simply unique ...

Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) — Whether you’re a believer or not, visiting Hagia Sophia is a spiritual experience. The architectural genius of this place of worship — which was built as a church in ...