Istanbul hotels review → Hotels in Istanbul next to Hagia Sophia
Hotels in Istanbul next to Hagia Sophia (Santa Sophia)
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The list of some Istanbul hotels near Hagia Sophia:
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Hagia Sophia (Santa Sophia) – the center of three Empires in the 20
th century
People have been visiting the greatest Cathedral of Europe for 13 centuries
Hagia Sophia Cathedral is a symbol of Istanbul. It’s one of the biggest cathedrals in the world. It’s been there for more than ten centuries. Residents of Ancient Byzantium used to come there to pray, later Ottoman conquerors came over and turned this
Orthodox Church into a mosque. Now Hagia Sophia is open for everybody, it’s a
museum. There are a lot of
Istanbul hotels located near Hagia Sophia, where you can get a room for you and your family. The first thing
tourists do - they begin to
explore Istanbul starting from Hagia Sophia. You will learn a lot of interesting facts about Agia Sofia Cathedral, for example...
... Russia accepted Christianity thanks to this Cathedral. Kiev Prince Vladimir sent consuls, who were supposed to let him know if Christianity was a good religion. Simple Slavic people, impressed by the size and beauty of the cathedral, immediately told that it was like a paradise. The result was that in the 10
th century Vladimir decided to christen Russian land.
... Princess Olga was christened in this Cathedral. Olga, mother of the legendary Prince Sveatoslav the warrior, was Christian. During her trip to Constantinople she was christened in a stone bowl that can still be observed by all visitors of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
... two great mathematicians of that time worked under the plan of this unique Cathedral: mathematician Anphemios from Tralles (Ayden city nowadays) and Isisdor from Millet. Isidor was a mathematician responsible for balance of the building. Anphemios managed the construction process. Both of them perfectly completed the task.
... a lot of parts of other great buildings were used for this Cathedral. The Rome Cathedral of the Sun lost its porphyritic columns; Artemida Cathedral, almost ruined
by the fire, lost its columns of green marble; Ephesus city lost its port columns; Lebanon sanctuary Baalbek lost its porphyritic columns..
... St. Sophia is a unique
museum of mosaic. Cathedral halls are decorated with ancient mosaic. You can see Emperors of Byzantium families on it, the virgin Mary and Jesus, Emperor Johnnes Comnenos, his wife, Hungarian Irene and their son on the side wall; Jesus, Zoya and her third husband Emperor Constantine Monomahos; The virgin Mary and baby Jesus and archangels Michael and Gabriel.
... Hagia Sophia is a museum of Muslim culture. You can still see four big round boards made of camel leather under the dome. The boards are decorated with phrases from Karan. There are also Mihrab (altar in Islam) and other holy relic important for Muslim.
... while Aya Sofia church was built...at the same time it was covered with sand. Workers came up with this great decision. Instead of construction ladders, they used sand. When they finished building the church, it appeared to be covered with sand. Sand was taken out and St Sofia Cathedral rose above the city of Constantinople. It’s still there in Istanbul.
