Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Enters The Most Extensive Phase Of Its Multi-Year Restoration
Ask any tourist traveling to Istanbul for the first time what is number one on their must-visit list and there's a good chance they're going to tell you the Hagia Sophia. The nearly 1,500-year-old landmark sees more than 50,000 visitors every single day.
The Hagia Sophia is one of the most celebrated religious landmarks in the world, having been first an Eastern Orthodox Church by Byzantine emperor Justinian I before being converted to a mosque by the Ottoman Empire, a museum by secularist Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and eventually reconverted back to a mosque in 2020.
The architectural wonder features a blending of preserved Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy on display shoulder-to-shoulder, offering an unparalleled look at the layers of culture and spirituality within Türkiye.
Mosaic From The Byzantine Era In The Hagia Sophia Of Istanbul, Turkey
The UNESCO-listed heritage site is currently undergoing extensive preservation work, made even more urgent due to Istanbul's recent 6.2-magnitude earthquake.
As of this spring, the Hagia Sophia has entered its most crucial phase of the multi-year restoration project, specifically focusing on reinforcing the 31-meter-wide dome. The main purpose of this specific part of the project is to strengthen the structure against potential future earthquakes while also preserving the original form and safeguarding the interior mosaics and architectural details.
'In the most terrifying scenario, an earthquake will shake the entire structure,' Hasan Firat Diker, architect and lead of the restoration told The Guardian. 'The main arch connecting the main dome and semi-domes could tremble and there might be cracks that occur.'
Key restoration work includes reinforcement of the central dome using custom-engineered steel structures, which allows the restoration to continue without having to pause visitors or worshippers from visiting the mosque. The exterior coverings will also be dismantled, and repaired or replaced, while a 43.5-meter-tall interior scaffolding system will support the conservation of mosaics on the interior of the historic building.
The entire Hagia Sophia has also been 3D-scanned in order to create a digital twin of the complex for longer-term historical preservation and further research.
Undoubtedly one of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks, Hagia Sophia has stood as a place of worship since Roman times. Over the centuries, it has endured earthquakes and wars, including the Nika Revolts, leading to numerous restorations. Commissioned by Emperor Justinian I, the current architectural masterpiece reflects the grandeur of Byzantine design. Once transformed into a museum in the 20th century, it was reconverted into the city's grand mosque in 2020. Yet, its upper gallery remains open to visitors, offering a glimpse into the timeless splendor and excellence of its ancient heritage.
This extensive restoration comes on the heels of other completed projects over the past few years, including the restoration of the Tombs of Mehmed III, Selim II, and Murad III. The project also included the reopening of the upper gallery to tourists; non-Muslim visitors can no longer enter the ground floor of the structure, which is now reserved for prayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
8 hours ago
- CNBC
At least 20 girls are missing from a summer camp in Texas after catastrophic floods
At least 20 girls are missing from an all-girls Christian summer camp in south Texas after catastrophic floods struck the area in the wake of severe overnight storms. In a press conference Friday afternoon, Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, said "20-some" girls attending Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, remained unaccounted for, later estimating the figure was "about 23." At a separate press conference in Kerr County on Friday afternoon, County Sheriff Larry L. Leitha Jr. said there had been 13 fatalities, without offering additional information, and warned there could be more. Patrick said victims, including children, had already been located, "some in cars washed out upstream." "We don't know where those bodies came from," he said, without ruling out that some may have come from the camp. "This is a mass casualty event," said Freeman Martin, Texas' director of public safety. Patrick said 18 helicopters and 400 to 500 rescue workers are taking part in the search-and-rescue mission, and that some individuals had already been rescued from trees. Patrick said he has been in touch with President Donald Trump, who said the White House would send any federal resources officials needed. Earlier in the day, the camp, where roughly 750 children were staying, issued a statement telling parents: "If your daughter is not accounted for, you have been notified," while indicating girls located in other parts of the camp had been found safe. The officials said the nearby highway was washed away and that the area remained without power, water or internet and was "struggling" to get more help. "Please continue to pray and send any help if you have contacts to do so," the officials wrote. The camp, for girls between the ages of 7 and 17, was due to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. It's located near the Guadalupe River, which authorities said surged as much as 22 feet in just half an hour Friday morning to a height of 30 feet in the nearby town of Comfort in Kerr County, breaking a record that had stood for decades. The Department of Homeland Security said Friday afternoon that Secretary Kristi Noem had activated the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency "to try to get these girls to safety" and was coordinating with state and local leaders. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also issued a statement on X shortly after 4 p.m. ET. "Please pray right now for everyone in the Hill Country, especially Camp Mystic," he wrote. "Today, I've spoken with Gov Abbott, Lt. Gov Patrick, the head of TDEM & President Trump. Multiple helicopters are performing search & rescue. President Trump committed ANYTHING Texas needs." In a press conference earlier Friday, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly confirmed six deaths from the catastrophic flooding, with the toll expected to rise, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Asked about the missing girls, Kelly confirmed some remained unaccounted for. "We know that there are some missing," he said. "We know where some of them are; they're stranded, and we're working to confirm that with people out at Camp Mystic. But in terms of how many, exactly how many are missing and unaccounted for, we're not sure about that number, but we have a bunch of them we're trying to get back." Flood warnings throughout the state remain in place through the weekend. "There is an ongoing threat for possible flash flooding from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours, in addition to the continued risks in west and central Texas," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement.
Hamilton Spectator
10 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
YUTARO SASAKI: What it's like to fly in a plane from the Second World War
SLEMON PARK, P.E.I. – I've never been on a smaller-sized aircraft, let alone one that served in the Second World War. On June 26, The Guardian, along with other members of the media, had the opportunity to partake in activities related prior to this year's Air Show Atlantic hosted in Slemon Park, P.E.I., from June 28-29. As I arrived at the Summerside-Slemon Park Airport, I was taken by the display, history and aura these planes held when they were lined up horizontally away from each other, side to side on the airfield. Moments later, I briefly took photos of the biplanes that the Northern Stars Aerobatic Team would be using in this year's air show, and a staff member of the event pulled me aside to brief me about the activity I was about to take part in. 'You're going to be in the sky today in the Harvard Mark II,' he said. Oh boy. And that yellow plane stood out to me when I first walked into the field. The pilot of the plane later came up to me and introduced himself. 'Hey, my name is Liam. I'll be your Harvard pilot today,' he said. As I put on my jumpsuit that the staff gave me, one thing stood out to me as I gazed into the aircraft's Royal Air Force insignia on the Harvard Mark II airplanes from the Second World War. It is still crazy to think that back in the '40s, men around my age or younger were willingly putting on their suits to train and shoot down the enemy aircraft(s) when the action came each day of conflict. I put on my jumpsuit for the chase of adrenaline, not because I needed to answer some call from a country in conflict, fighting a war. What a relief that is. Moments later, I was guided to the Waterloo Warbirds Harvard Mark II aircraft and I took a big step up on the handle for someone not very tall. 'This plane is huge!' I thought. After the big reach, I got seated in what looked like a tiny tin can, which can be pretty worrisome for someone not used to having everything so close to them. Initially, I was apprehensive, but I was grateful I was not claustrophobic. Out of nowhere, what looked like a jet fighter suddenly flew past the Summerside airfield. Article contentI grabbed my camera, hoping to get a decent shot of the jet and waited as I dialled my settings to manually focus the lens so I could prepare the angle. A loud burring sound echoed through the atmosphere around the city. And there it was, an F-18 flying around Prince Edward Island. After I was seated and buckled into the Harvard Mk. II airplane, Pearson and I checked for audio before departure. 'Are you ready to have some fun?' he asked. 'Let's see what it can do,' I said. We were ready to go as Pearson tested his rudders and his control sticks. He cleared the flight plan with the Air Traffic Control, and now we were preparing to take off. The gauges caught my attention, and I prayed that nothing broke during a stunt. As I gazed at the side of the airfield, the plane was already up. A few hundred feet up in altitude later, Pearson turned the plane to the left, and I took digital single-lens pictures of harvesters around Miscouche, P.E.I., tending to their oyster leases. 'That was pretty awesome, but where the hell is the fun?' I controlled the stick, and now we were horizontally aligned again. 'Going to roll it now,' he said over the radio. The gravity force lifted strands of my hair as my stomach dropped. I thought I might throw up. If the microphone were live during the roll, the ATC would've heard me screaming into the air and nothing else. 'Are you OK?' Pearson asked. 'Yep. I'm OK, this is awesome,' I replied. And indeed it was; I got to glance above the Summerside Sunbank and I saw the Summerside Harbour from a vantage point very few people have. After a few stunts and rolls later, we finally landed at the airfield, and when I got a chance to interview Pearson, the pilot of the Waterloo Warbirds Harvard Mk. II aircraft, about its place in history. Pearson said the plane was originally designed as an advanced trainer in the Second World War. 'Typically, the training would have been on a smaller aircraft, like a biplane, fabric, wood, that kind of construction,' he said. Once the pilot acquired their wings, they were then introduced to the Harvard Mk. II aircraft for their advanced training. 'And it was the advanced trainer because it did have some more advanced systems, like the gear retraction,' Pearson said. After the pilot successfully trains with the airplane, he added that those pilots would fly in planes like the North American P-51 Mustang, Royal Air Force's Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, and others. 'These planes were very important airplanes during the war for that reason. It made a good trainer because it has similar handling characteristics in some ways to those aircraft that they were going to fly,' said Pearson. When pilots used to train in these Harvard airplanes, the student would sit in the front with the instructor seated in the rear, Pearson said. 'And the instructor would teach them from the back, whether it would be aerobatics like we did,' he said. The airplane is also classified as Mk. II. B, meaning that it was a Harvard that the air force could equip with rockets or bombs, Pearson added. 'And people could use it for target practice, bomb dropping, that sort of specialized training. But once they got onto the fighters, they didn't have two-seat fighters in a lot of instances,' he said. It's a privilege to fly the Harvard airplane, Pearson said. 'I'm very fortunate that I have an opportunity to display the airplane and share the experience with people,' he said. tLet us not forget about the past, Pearson added. 'The Second World War was almost 100 years ago now when pilots would come up on it. It's quite the honour and the privilege,' he said. The Waterloo Warbirds Harvard Mk. II aircraft spent the Air Show Atlantic on June 28-29 conducting a non-aerobatic routine for display purposes. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached by email at ysasaki@ and followed on Twitter @PEyutarosasaki . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
American Press
10 hours ago
- American Press
Warren 'Jimmy' J. LeBlanc Sr.
Warren J. (Jimmie) LeBlanc Sr. born in Welsh on Nov. 14, 1934, son of the late Andrew and Ada Hardy LeBlanc, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at the age of 90, surrounded by his loving family. Jimmie was a graduate of 1954 Class in Lacassine, La. He served his country honorably in the Louisiana National Guard from 1953-1959. He and his wife, Genevieve married in November of 1955. Jimmie was a rice farmer in Welsh area for most of his adult life. He is an honorary member of the Welsh Knights of Columbus Council 2855. He was also a faithful member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lacassine. He was one of the Founders of the Lacassine Optimist Club. He enjoyed deer hunting, playing cards with his friends, but most of all his family. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Genevieve LeLeaux LeBlanc, children, Warren Jr. (Susie), Carl (Patty), Sherree (Bobby), and Chad (Jamie). Grandchildren Chris (Muffy), Megan (Ryan), Barrett (Lacey), Casey (Joni), Brennon (Heather), Kyle (Brandy), Jenna (Philip), and Madison. Great grandchildren, James, Grayson, Parker Elizabeth, Levi, Austin, Avery, Olivia, Emmie, Thomas, Claire, Allie, William, Parker Matthew, Annie, Collin, Sarah, Landon, Eva, Finn, Shawn, Jason, and Shawna. Also, three sisters-in-law, Della, MaryNell, and Yvette. Nephews and nieces, Jeffery, Robin, Holly, RJ and Russell. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dickie and Chester, and sister Marie Eloise. A Mass of Christian burial will be in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 10 a.m., the Rev. Jom Joseph, Celebrant. Burial will follow in Lacassine Cemetery under the direction of Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa. Visitation will begin Sunday in Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a rosary recited at 6 p.m. and will resume Monday from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Pallbearers assisting in his service are Chris LeBlanc, Barrett LeBlanc, Casey LeBlanc, Brennon LaBouve, Kyle LaBouve and Ryan McAtee. Honorary Pallbearers will include all of his great grandchildren. Lectors will be Megan McAtee and Madison LeBlanc The family would like to thank Memorial Hospital Staff, Christus St. Pats Staff, Golden Age of Welsh staff, Harbor House Hospice and his cardiologist, Dr. Foster for their love and compassionate care of Jimmie. In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or charity of your choice. Words of comfort may be shared at: Facebook: Johnson & Brown Funeral Home
