Main entrance to the Hagia. Note the wear on the doorway sill.
1500 year old tiles in the Vestibule room.
Donation mosaic; Constantinople with his city (left), Justinian with the original Hagia Sophia.
Ted, reading the guidebook (on Kindle!) to understand the Hagia Sophia.
Mosaic of Christ with Emperor Leo VI above the Imperial Gate; was covered over and lost until 1933.
Looking through the Imperial Gate into the main space. Note the metal hooks at the top of the door, they held leather drapes.
Tourists in the main nave.
Looking across the nave.
Mihrab. Offset, as Hagia Sophia was Catholic, so it wasn't built to face Mecca.
Mosaic of Mary and Child above the apse. From the 9th century.
Sultan's Loge, from 19th century.
Mimber and Islamic calligraphy.
Islamic Mimber with Catholic Mary and Child in background.
Looking across the chandeliers at windows.
Old iron straps to hold a column together.
Intricate work on the top of a column. Nice tile and mosaics too.
Medallion on ceiling arch with ancient swastika symbols.
Rough stones on ramped passage to upper level.
Arch and beam.
Looking through ironwork on upper level.
Chandalier with ancient ironwork.
The upper level was cold.
Ceiling arch.
Looking across the upper gallery.
Arches and such.
Three cute scarved women.
