The Aya Sofya

Last Saturday, our first day free from orientation, 4 of the CIEE group went back into Sultanahmet to visit a few more sights. The first on our list was the Aya Sofya (or Hagia Sofia in English), a Church that had been converted to a Mosque during the Ottoman Empire, and is now open as a museum. Apparently we arrived just at the right time, as there had been scaffolding in the main room for over 14 years that had just been taken down. It was hands-down one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life. I can't even explain why, it was just so amazingly impressive. 

When you first enter the courtyard, you can see the remains of the flying buttresses and some Christian carvings. They have tried to reconcile maintaining artifacts and the "structural integrity" of the property, so there are many remains simply sitting on the ground or half-buried that they deemed to weak to move. Once you enter the building, you walk through the entry hall, take a left, and are met with what has to be one of the largest rooms in world. 

The walls are covered in Muslim art and symbols, along with recovered frescos and Christian mosaics. It was unbelievably beautiful. It was clear that there was so much history in the building, and that it had meant so much to so many people. Even in the photo above, you can see the depiction of Jesus above the door, and then the Arabic plaques inside. Here are some more photos of the inside: 

Istanbul is full of stray cats and dogs. They're all very friendly, but they've been suffering recently because of the cold and snow that is uncharacteristic of the area. These two cats below had snuck inside the Aya Sofya and fell asleep cuddled up against one another in this spotlight for warmth. They were adorable! Although there were guards everywhere, they were nice enough to let the cats take a respite from the frigid outdoors.

In order to access the gallery above, you have to climb up this ramp/tunnel. It was a little creepy, and not recommended for anyone who is claustrophobic, but you could just imagine the procession as the Empress ascended to her viewing spot for the services and prayer.

The magnificent view from the upper gallery:

 And, finally, here is one of the most intact Christian mosaics that have been recovered.

For anyone traveling to Istanbul, I would absolutely recommend the Aya Sofya. Aside from the water views, it is definitely the most beautiful and impressive sight that I've visited since I arrived. As we were given Muzekarts, student passes that make any Ministry of History and Culture sight free, I hope to get back to the Aya Sofya at least once more. There is so much to see, and it is all magnificent!