Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) – a sacred masterpiece of architectural history
Despite my lack of religious faith, Hagia Sophia represents sanctity to me – in addition to its history and beauty. Throughout its eventful history, it has served as a sacred place for over 1500 years for both Christians and Muslims, and for almost 100 years also as a museum. Hagia Sophia is one of the wonders of world architectural history and is considered one of the masterpieces of Byzantine architecture. Since 1985, Hagia Sophia has also been part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.