The Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul will become paid for foreign citizens – Kommersant
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Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that entrance to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul will be paid for foreign tourists. The changes will take effect on January 15, 2024. The cost of the entrance ticket is not yet known.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said at a press conference at the Ataturk Cultural Center that restrictions on free entry to the mosque are due to UNESCO recommendations for managing mosque visitors, Turkish TV channel reports. NTV.
“There will be no fee charged to Turkish citizens who come to worship,” the minister emphasized.
In addition to paid entry for foreigners, special zones will be developed. They will prevent possible conflicts between Turkish citizens coming to worship services and foreign citizens visiting the mosque for tourism purposes.
Hagia Sophia was built in the sixth century AD. and is a monument of Byzantine architecture. In the 15th century the temple was rebuilt into a mosque. In 1934, the Hagia Sophia Mosque was given museum status, and in 1985 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2020, Muslim prayers resumed in Hagia Sophia. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has demanded a report from Turkey on measures taken to preserve the cathedral.
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