Hagia Sophia Museum offers new collection

The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, located in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square, opened its doors with new works, revealing the most special examples of historical and cultural heritage.

The old Defter-i Hakani Nezareti (Land Registry Directorate) building in the historic district was converted into a museum in 2023 by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, and the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum started to present the 1,700-year history of Hagia Sophia to visitors as a visual and auditory feast with the help of the latest technologies.

On May 22, the museum reopened its doors with a rich and diversified collection of new 30 works.

The updated "Museum Historical Artifacts Collection" includes the 15th-century Quran, Islam's holy book, rare candlesticks and liturgical materials belonging to the Christian religion, offering visitors the opportunity to travel through a wide range of history.

The historical brick used in the construction of Hagia Sophia and having ancient Greek inscriptions, as well as the bronze medallions made by the Fossatti Brothers and covering the faces of the four Seraphim Angels in the dome, are also exhibited in the museum.

The legacy of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror

The museum also displays documents related to the Hagia Sophia Mosque Foundation, which was established by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) after the conquest of Istanbul. These documents provide detailed information about the administration of the foundation and the expenditures made. These historical documents of the foundation exhibited in the Fatih Sultan Mehmet section offer visitors the opportunity to go deeper into history, emphasizing the importance of preserving and...