Istanbul and the Aya Sofia seen from the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul and the Aya Sofia seen from the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey

The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey

The Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

Frescoes outside the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey

Frescoes outside the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

A minaret at the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey

A minaret at the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

Scaffolding inside the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey

Scaffolding inside the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The interior of the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey

The interior of the Hagia Sofia building in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The dome at the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey. It was being renovated, hence the scafolding

The dome at the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014. It was being renovated, hence the scafolding

Huge wall at the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey

Huge wall at the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

Minaret at the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey

Minaret at the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul, Turkey

The Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

Sign signifying the Haram building next to the Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul, Turkey

Sign signifying the Haram building next to the Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

A window at the Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul, Turkey

A window at the Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

Hagia Sophia with one of it's minaret in Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia with one of it's minaret in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

A wall of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

A wall of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The foundations of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

The foundations of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014

The back of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

The back of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2014