Having spent two days doing tours, I planned on having a quiet wander through the main tourist drawcards, the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and of course the Topkapi palace and museum. Today it was to be the Hagia Sophia, there was the choice of going left or right as the mosques actually face each other across lovely pedestrian areas that include markets, parks and fountains. It is a stunning and picturesque scene, throw in the tourists and hawkers of books and various other junk, you have a lot of interesting scenes!
I arrived bright and early after a boring breakfast of cornflakes and coffee, I had seen the queues previously and considered it a wise move. As indeed it was, costing 25 lira, I took it on the chin, price wise as there are sometimes you pay and endeavour to look happy about it! The queue for tickets a short one, and no waiting at all. Fortunately, as the weather has been very hot, also another reason for getting out and about early.
At the end of my visit I felt it was money well spent to view something that is indeed special. The history of the Museum as it is now started out well over a thousand years ago. The initial buildings begun, it is thought, around 350 BC.
As time passed the original two were destroyed or burnt, the current building begun in 532 and dedicated some 5 years later. It’s history alone makes it of unique interest. Originally, the Hagia Sophia was Orthodox church , it became a mosque, in 1453 after being captured by the Ottoman empire, changed and added to in the succeeding centuries. Finally in order to stop arguments between churches as to who could use it, the Turkish government changed it to a museum in 1935.
Unlike the other mosques we weren’t required to remove shoes or use a covering at all for women. It is a museum like no other I have ever been . Take time as you go through the entrance of the mosque to read of its history , there are pictures and explanations in turkish and english. Then be prepared for the Wow factor as you enter the main part of the mosque, its soaring dome, apparently some 55 metres above the floor, is amazing, stunning, you really are at a loss to describe the sight of it! The hundreds of tourists of course all milling around trying to take it all in, and where to go first for the best camera shots? The sheer size of the building impressive as well as the wide hallways on either side of the main dome. The halls were alot quieter than the main area obviously so it was easy to wander, and take in the sights of everywhere. A walk up the stone ramp takes everyone up to the balcony level it does seem to take a while! There are various sites to see and ponder over, there was a photographic display of the mosque on display. The paintings on the wall incredible given the ages of them , as well as the artistry. You don’t attribute any skills to people in the past until you see this mosque.
The buildings themselves, added to the tiles, windows, paintings you can only wonder in admiration. My photographs certainly don’t do justice to any of these. After leaving the mosque, a wander around the grounds was very pleasant, seeing some of the artefacts that litter the place. One with lambs on it, said to represent the disciples, from the second building of the then church.
A quick look at the cafe prices convinced me not to stay, so I headed for the restaurant where I have lunch and a wifi fix. Usually soup with delicious turkish bread. A mid afternoon walk back to the hotel down streets full of activity , that is always interesting to watch and enjoy. At least it’s all downhill.
