Türkiye Saves One of the World's Most Important Buildings: Open-Heart Surgery
The 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is undergoing one of the largest renovations since its construction, all out of concern about the increasing number of earthquakes in Turkey. The renovation will focus on strengthening the dome, which adorns one of the most important elements of world heritage.
Hagia Sophia was built in 537 on the orders of Emperor Justinian the Great. For centuries, it was the largest cathedral in the Christian world. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II, it was transformed into a mosque, with minarets standing next to Byzantine mosaics. In the 20th century, it became a museum – a testament to Atatürk’s secular reforms – and in 2020 it became a mosque again.
Each of these changes left its mark, including on the dome itself, which today requires special care.
It is worth adding here that the dome of Hagia Sophia itself has a diameter of 31 meters, thanks to which it looks as if it is floating in the air. This is all due to the windows at its base, which add lightness to it. This is one of the most innovative solutions in the history of architecture.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul / ShutterstockIn April 2025, Turkish authorities announced the beginning of conservation work. A team of architects, engineers and art historians led by Hasan Fırat Diker intends not only to strengthen the main dome and semi-domes , but also to secure the entire structure against possible earthquakes. And these are not uncommon in the region. In Istanbul itself, two active tectonic lines intersect, and in April 2023, the city was hit by an earthquake measuring 6.2 Richter.
- This could be one of the greatest renovations of our time – comments Diker.
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul / ShutterstockThe work will begin with the removal of the lead cover from the dome, which will allow experts to accurately assess its condition and reach the oldest layers of the structure. Specialists also want to assess the condition of the four load-bearing pillars and the surrounding ground. It is possible that previously unknown traces of previous reconstructions, fires or seismic shocks from the 10th and 14th centuries will be revealed. Conservators plan to install a tower crane on the eastern façade of the building, and its upper part will be covered with a frame structure that will protect it during the work.
Conservators are counting on historical gemsMehmet Selim Okten, a civil engineer and member of the scientific council of the project, emphasizes that the renovation is not only protective, but also cognitive.
- When we uncover the layers beneath the surface, we may find more than just cracks - perhaps fragments of a forgotten past.
The work will be carried out "in an open heart". The authorities do not plan to close the facility to tourists and believers. The renovation does not have a specific completion date. Everything depends on the discoveries , but also on the weather, which may extend the work. Experts emphasize that the most important thing in this case is precision and safe renovation, so that none of the building elements are damaged.
Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has never been just a building. It is a living symbol of Christianity, Islam, a secular republic, and national identity. Experts are aware that its dome is not a perfect sphere – it has been reinforced, built on, and saved many times over the centuries, which is why it must be approached with special care, putting aside the engineering itself.
Hagia Sophia is the most visited monument in Istanbul . It is estimated that it is visited by up to 50 thousand tourists and believers daily. This can be as many as 6-7 million people from all over the world per year.
