Press & Media
Press & Media Resources
Background information, key facts, and a concise timeline of Hagia Sophia for journalists, educators, and content creators. For interviews or additional material, contact our editorial team.
Media enquiriesQuick Facts
Inaugurated
537 AD (current structure)
Commissioned by
Emperor Justinian I
Dome height
55.6 m / 182 ft
Annual visitors
Millions, one of Istanbul's most-visited sites
Timeline at a Glance
360 AD
First church on the site, built under Constantius II.
537 AD
The present basilica completed under Justinian I in just under six years.
1453
Converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople.
1935
Opened as a museum by the Republic of Türkiye.
2020
Re-designated as a working mosque, open to visitors of all faiths.
Editorial resources
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