Hagia Sophia (Greek Ἁγία Σοφία, for ‘Holy Wisdom') was designed to be the major basilica of the Byzantine Empire and held the record for the largest dome in the world until the Duomo was built in Florence in the 15th century CE. Aya Sofia is having a colossal dome. Program Dumbarton Oaks Resources. Here are 10 facts about this domed monument to make your visit more interesting: OTHER FACTS ABOUT THE HAGIA SOPHIA. It makes the Hagia Sofia as one of the biggest Church building. The structure was secularized by the first Turkish President Kemal Ataturk in 1934. The following year, it was converted into a … Hagia Sophia was constructed as the cathedral-church of Constantinople, and from 527 until Sept. 29, 1453, and the fall of the city to the Muslim armies of the Ottoman Empire, it … Today, the enormous vault is encompassed by four minarets which were worked during the Ottoman time frame. Hagia Sophia History. Hagia Sophia, Turkish Ayasofya, Latin Sancta Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom , cathedral built at Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in the 6th century A.D. (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I.. Hagia Sophia is a former Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum. The vault of the Hagia Sophia Turkey is 180 feet high and 100 feet wide and was viewed as a transformation throughout the entire existence of engineering. In 1985, the Hagia Sophia is designated as one of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Christians used Hagia Sofia as a worship place for around 1000 years. It was the principal church of the Byzantine Empire in its capital, Constantinople (later Istanbul), and a mosque after the Ottoman Empire conquered the city in 1453. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, constructed 532-537 CE, continues to be revered as one of the most important structures in the world. Byzantine Emperor Justinian constructed the Hagia Sophia in the 6th century exactly in year 537. In addition to being a integral piece of Istanbul's cultural and historical fabric in both ancient and modern times, Hagia Sophia or "holy wisdom" is also an important site for the city's tourism. Facts About Hagia Sophia. Built between 532 and 537, Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom, Ayasofya) represents a brilliant moment in Byzantine architecture and art.