Hagia Sophia a) is a magic tourism place and a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was designed by two architects, It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. The current building was originally constructed as a church between A.D. 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and was in fact the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site (the previous two had both been destroyed by riots) .contained a large collection of holy relics and featured .It was the patriarchal church of the Patriarch of 
Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque .For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia served as a model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul), the ?ehzade Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque.At first it was church, As often happened in those days, the site was selected because there had been a pagan temple there. Both churches acted together as the principal churches of the Byzantine Empire. The church was built next to the area where the imperial palace was being developed and next to the smaller church Hagia Eirene, finished first and acting as cathedral until the Hagia Sophia was completed. This church was chronicled by Socrates of Constantinople (380–440), who claimed that it was built by Constantine the Great. It was built as a traditional Latin colonnaded basilica with galleries and a wooden roof. It was preceded by an atrium. The Hagia Sophia was inaugurated by Constantius II on 15 February 360. This first church was then already claimed to be one of the world's most outstanding monuments . It was still church and tourism place 3 times and after that mosque .it is a very beautiful place to visit it. I think many tourists came to this place to
Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque .For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia served as a model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul), the ?ehzade Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque.At first it was church, As often happened in those days, the site was selected because there had been a pagan temple there. Both churches acted together as the principal churches of the Byzantine Empire. The church was built next to the area where the imperial palace was being developed and next to the smaller church Hagia Eirene, finished first and acting as cathedral until the Hagia Sophia was completed. This church was chronicled by Socrates of Constantinople (380–440), who claimed that it was built by Constantine the Great. It was built as a traditional Latin colonnaded basilica with galleries and a wooden roof. It was preceded by an atrium. The Hagia Sophia was inaugurated by Constantius II on 15 February 360. This first church was then already claimed to be one of the world's most outstanding monuments . It was still church and tourism place 3 times and after that mosque .it is a very beautiful place to visit it. I think many tourists came to this place to 
