Turkey: Hagia Sophia Mosque Marks Sixth Anniversary with Over 30 Million Visitors
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has welcomed more than 30 million visitors since it reopened for worship six years ago. The historic mosque remains one of Turkey’s most visited landmarks, continuing to draw worshippers and tourists alike, even as restoration work continues.Since reopening for prayers six years ago, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has received…
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has welcomed more than 30 million visitors since it reopened for worship six years ago. The historic mosque remains one of Turkey’s most visited landmarks, continuing to draw worshippers and tourists alike, even as restoration work continues.
Since reopening for prayers six years ago, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has received over 30 million visitors, underscoring its status as one of Turkey’s most-visited sites. The location has consistently attracted strong interest from both tourists and worshippers, with visitors arriving from across the country and abroad.
Originally built as a church, Hagia Sophia served as a Christian place of worship for 916 years, until it was converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmed II following the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453. It remained a mosque until 1934, when a cabinet decree turned it into a museum for 86 years. Later, on July 10, 2020, Turkey’s Council of State annulled that decree, paving the way for its reopening as a mosque.
Istanbul Deputy Mufti Arif Colak said the reopening of Hagia Sophia for worship fulfilled a long-standing wish held by millions of people for years. The mosque is used both for prayer and religious education, offering teaching and Quranic instruction services. Visitors to the site notably include tourists from Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, while around 120 staff members provide services daily. Meanwhile, restoration work at the mosque continues on a limited scale.
