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Event Horizon - Astronomical and Terrestrial Images

Home > Adventures Abroad > Turkey 2006 > Aya Sophia, 4/1/2006 Most viewed - Aya Sophia, 4/1/2006 Corners397 viewsAt each corner of the square formed by the upper galleries, there is an exedra - a semicircular columned recess which relieves the starkness of sharp corners and provides nooks for conversation. Istanbul Street Scene396 viewsOn our way to the Grand Bazaar. Remains392 viewsThe objects exhibited here are remains of an older Aya Sophia, built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II, who dedicated it in 415 AD, and destroyed during the Nika riots of 532. Candlesticks391 viewsThe two giant candlesticks on either side of the Mihrab were donated by Grand Vizier Ibrahim, who pillaged them from the Hungarian court church during the Turkish conquest of Buda in 1526. Tourist Magnet391 viewsThe Grand Bazaar claims to be the #1 tourist attraction not only in Turkey, but in the world, with up to 400,000 visitors daily and over 91 MILLION annually. Restoration Work390 viewsThe scaffolding seen on the left in this picture filled the center of the nave; it was erected to enable restoration work on the dome, conducted with the aid of a grant from the World Monuments Fund. The work was completed sometime after our visit in 2006. Sandie Takes a Poke389 viewsUnfortunately, the light in this corner of Hagia Sophia was so dim that the camera wasn't able to shoot at the speeds required to freeze motion, so this as well as many other pictures shot inside the cathedral came out blurry. Masked Man387 viewsAttila warned us that there was a danger of avian flu and told us that we should wear masks to Aya Sophia. I had brought some surgical masks to wear on airplane flights, so this was an opportunity to make good use of them. Colorful Windows382 viewsFour of the stained-glass windows admitting light into the apse. In the Empress' Loge377 viewsThe upper gallery features green marble columns from Thessaly. Here our tour group gathers in the Empress' Loge to listen to Attila expound on the gallery architecture. Looking up360 viewsA ground-floor view of one of the excedrae. 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