Philip Day

Review of Santa Sofía

Justinian's vast building was erected in only 5 ye...

Justinian's vast building was erected in only 5 years between 532 and 537AD.Although I had seen pictures and read about Hagia Sophia, nothing could have prepared me for this huge and complex interior with its half domes, apses, niches and mosaics over which presides the huge central dome, 107 feet in diameter.According to Pesvner, the original architects came from Asia Minor: Anthemius of Thralles and lsidore of Miletus.Their very successful design has been the template for many of the mosques since built in Istanbul.