The Hagia Sophia is a beautiful building! Originally a Byzantine Church (finished around 360 AD) and later converted into a mosque, it is now a great museum/monument that has been restored and maintained over the years. Istanbul was such a wonderful place...the history literally surrounds you on all four sides! We also visited the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, built during the reign of Justinian in the 6th century. It was too dark to take any good photos, but is definitely worth a visit! Also worth noting is the Modern Art Museum and the Archaeological Museum near the Hagia Sophia. It was one of the best museums we've seen yet! We also took a ferry boat up the Bosphorus Strait and visited the Asian side of Istanbul (literally on the Asian Continent). After walking for 2 hours we realized we were lost, but finally reached the market area that was our original destination....we were only a few kilometers off! Overall, Istanbul was great. The food was to die for and we could have spent weeks seeing all of the sights!
The Blue Mosque Exterior and Interior
