Visitors to the Hagia Sophia, one of Turkey’s most iconic landmarks and tourist attractions, will now be charged a €25 (R517) entrance fee.
The structure has a rich history spanning more than 1 500 years. It has undergone several repairs and restorations over the years, and in 2020, President Erdogan announced that the Hagia Sophia would be converted from a museum to a mosque.
In September last year, the Daily Hurriyet reported that Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism would drive efforts to fully restore the Hagia Sophia while remaining open to worshippers and visitors. The project is expected to take more than 50 years to complete.
