Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Undergoes Largest Refurbishment in Its 1,500-Year History
Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, renowned as one of the world's most iconic and historic structures, is set to receive a significant renovation, as announced by Türkiye's culture and tourism minister.
TroibNews 
Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, one of the world's most historic and iconic structures, is set to undergo significant renovation.
Türkiye's culture and tourism minister shared on social media that the goal is to "make the dome more resistant to earthquakes." Mehmet Nuri Ersoy emphasized that "the original state of the structure will be meticulously preserved."
Constructed as a church in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, this World Heritage Site is widely regarded as a prime example of Byzantine architecture. For centuries, it served as a place of Christian worship until the fall of Istanbul in 1453, when it was transformed into a mosque by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. It remained a Muslim holy site for nearly 500 years until 1931.
After being closed by the Republican government led by President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, it reopened as a museum four years later. However, in July 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced its reconversion to a mosque following a court ruling that deemed the 1934 decision invalid.
Quake risk remains a concern, especially as parts of southern Türkiye continue to recover from the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquakes in February 2023, which resulted in over 53,000 fatalities and widespread destruction. Seismologists have long cautioned about the risks posed by even minor earthquakes in Istanbul, a city with a population of 16 million and numerous UNESCO-listed buildings.
The dome of the Hagia Sophia has collapsed three times in its 1,500-year history, including once just decades after its original completion.
Details of the planned renovations were disclosed by Türkiye's culture and tourism minister, who indicated that the primary focus of the upgrade will be the dome's exterior. It will be "temporarily covered with a steel structure and a special tarpaulin to prevent weather conditions and to protect the mosaics."
Comments on the minister's social media post, which featured an animated video explainer, have been disabled.
Since its reconversion to a mosque in 2020, significant alterations have been made for visitors to the Hagia Sophia. The original Ottoman-era marble floors on the ground level are now covered with prayer rugs, and some areas have screens obscuring Christian iconography.
Authorities have also imposed a $21 entrance fee for tourists, which they claim is partly intended to help manage visitor numbers. Since 2020, over 25 million visitors, including many Muslims from around the globe seeking to pray at this renowned site, have visited the Hagia Sophia.
In his post, Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated, "Worship will continue, history will be preserved," as the renovations progress.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Türkiye's culture and tourism minister shared on social media that the goal is to "make the dome more resistant to earthquakes." Mehmet Nuri Ersoy emphasized that "the original state of the structure will be meticulously preserved."
Constructed as a church in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, this World Heritage Site is widely regarded as a prime example of Byzantine architecture. For centuries, it served as a place of Christian worship until the fall of Istanbul in 1453, when it was transformed into a mosque by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. It remained a Muslim holy site for nearly 500 years until 1931.
After being closed by the Republican government led by President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, it reopened as a museum four years later. However, in July 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced its reconversion to a mosque following a court ruling that deemed the 1934 decision invalid.
Quake risk remains a concern, especially as parts of southern Türkiye continue to recover from the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquakes in February 2023, which resulted in over 53,000 fatalities and widespread destruction. Seismologists have long cautioned about the risks posed by even minor earthquakes in Istanbul, a city with a population of 16 million and numerous UNESCO-listed buildings.
The dome of the Hagia Sophia has collapsed three times in its 1,500-year history, including once just decades after its original completion.
Details of the planned renovations were disclosed by Türkiye's culture and tourism minister, who indicated that the primary focus of the upgrade will be the dome's exterior. It will be "temporarily covered with a steel structure and a special tarpaulin to prevent weather conditions and to protect the mosaics."
Comments on the minister's social media post, which featured an animated video explainer, have been disabled.
Since its reconversion to a mosque in 2020, significant alterations have been made for visitors to the Hagia Sophia. The original Ottoman-era marble floors on the ground level are now covered with prayer rugs, and some areas have screens obscuring Christian iconography.
Authorities have also imposed a $21 entrance fee for tourists, which they claim is partly intended to help manage visitor numbers. Since 2020, over 25 million visitors, including many Muslims from around the globe seeking to pray at this renowned site, have visited the Hagia Sophia.
In his post, Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated, "Worship will continue, history will be preserved," as the renovations progress.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
