Hagia Sophia (Divine Wisdom) stands on the site of the ancient acropolis. The first church was founded here by Constantine the Great in 330, it burned down 75 years later. The first stone of the present building was built in 532 under Justinian. In 537, the church was consecrated and served for more than a thousand years as an Orthodox church. The last Christian service was held here May 28, 1453. The next day, Constantinople fell and the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque, as which lasted another 500 years. At this time, four minarets were added, and the beautiful mosaics have disappeared under a layer of plaster. Since 1934, the temple was declared a museum.

Entrance to the Hagia Sophia is now available on the south side, through a small courtyard with archaeological exhibits. Five doors lead to the porch of the ancient basilica, decorated with marble and gold mosaics. Further, nine doors, shutters, most of which have survived from the time of Justinian, leading to the interior of the temple.

Inside the temple is remarkably light and easy. The huge dome is high columns decorated with ancient mosaics. Light penetrates through the 40 windows. On the walls of the church you can see beautiful old golden mosaic: on the north side of the house with a mosaic depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ child on her lap; at the base of one of the arches - a huge image of the figure of the Archangel Gabriel; Nearby - the portraits of the bishops; in the east end of the south gallery - mosaic depicting Christ surrounded by Empress Zoe and Emperor Constantine IX.

When the church became a mosque, it was established within two marble fountain with drinking water and built four mimbara for recitation of the Quran, and eight medallions in Arabic script written the names of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, the first caliphs and the sons of Ali. In the courtyard of the temple, on the left, are the tombs of five Ottoman sultans.