Aya Sofya

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Aya Sofya

Aya Sofya was on the 'definitely-must-do' list for today and took up a couple of hours of walking, musing and picture taking. It's a massive interior that makes one feel tiny when standing looking up at the ceiling and dome. Taking the steps to the higher level gives an even greater sense of the size of the structure. Monk was pleased to see that, on the interior, the Byzantine origins of the church have not been overpowered by some of the overtly Islamic later additions as the exterior has by the four minarets added by the Ottomans. Monk felt that Aya Sofya exudes the air of a lady who's been grossly molested but who's managed to rise above it and retain her dignity.

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