The Hagia Sophia | April 20, 2004

The most important ancient church building that still stands is the Hagia Sophia. The domed Basilica was built in 537 in Constantinopel (now Istanbul) in the Byzantine empire. It was converted into a mosque in 1453 and in the following years four Minarets were added. Since 1935 it has been a museum with much of its original mosaic work uncovered.