A visit to Istanbul
On a three-day visit to Istanbul in February 2012 we walked miles, had sun, wind and snow and I photographed – a lot. Istanbul is a feast for the senses with great people and centuries of history.
Hagia Sophia
This has been the site of a church since 360 (during the reign of Constantius II). The current building was built from 532-537 and was the largest cathedral for in the world for 1000 years. It is generally regarded as the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture.”
It has a varied history –
- Eastern Orthodox Cathedral (562–1204)
- Catholic Cathedral (1204–1261)
- Eastern Orthodox Cathedral (1261–1453)
- Ottoman Empire Imperial Mosque (1453–1931)
- Museum (1931-present)
The building today shows its age and its history but it is amazing and certainly a place to visit if you get the chance.
