Little Hagia Sophia

Istanbul, Turkey

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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ReferenceKulturenvanteri↗

In Constantinople, the Little Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Küçük Ayasofya Camii) was originally built as the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in the sixth century under the patronage of Justinian. Designed by Isidore of Miletus and constructed of brick, this Byzantine structure features a central dome plan that was recognized even in antiquity as a masterwork of architectural originality and carved decoration—ranked by contemporary observers second only to the Hagia Sophia itself, despite the common misconception that it served as a model for that celebrated building. The church was later converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period, reflecting the transformations that reshaped Constantinople after 1453. Though the exact date of construction remains disputed among scholars, ranging from the mid-520s to the early 530s, the building stands as one of the most significant early Byzantine monuments in Istanbul and remains a protected cultural property.