Top 10 Religious Sites: Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

One of the main reasons for my recent trip to Istanbul was to visit this place.  I really didn't know much about it before visiting and soon learned that it is one of the most important religious sites in the world.  

Below is information about what makes this building so special.  

Google AI Overview

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, is a world-famous architectural masterpiece. Completed in 537 AD as a Byzantine Christian cathedral, it became an Ottoman mosque in 1453, a museum in 1935, and was reconverted into an active grand mosque in 2020. 

History

Built by Emperor Justinian I between 532 and 537 AD.
Served as the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years.
Converted to a mosque by Sultan Mehmed II after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Changed to a secular museum by Turkey's first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in 1935.
Reopened for Muslim prayers and designated a mosque again in 2020.  

Hagia Sophia in the News

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/turkeys-president-formally-makes-hagia-sophia-a-mosque

You could say the outside is a little underwhelming; however, when you go inside you are immediately in awe.  You will notice in many cases that some of the mosaics had to be recovered.  After becoming a mosque after the fall of Constantinople (Istanbul), many of the mosaics were plastered over.  

Note:  In Islam, viewing and creating images depends on the subject and purpose. Depictions of God (Allah) and all prophets—including Prophet Muhammad—are strictly prohibited to prevent idolatry.

Below you will also see where some were covered up in order to not be viewed from the worship area below.  Remember is was still a museum until just a few years ago.  Now, the second floor is still considered a museum.  You are not allowed on the bottom floor, except for worship.  

      

A famous inscription by a Viking Visitor.  

The hidden faces of Icons.  The Muslims worshipping below are not allowed to be in the presence of images other than Allah. 

The oldest mosaic in the church and the most detailed with the smallest mosaic squares.  

The back door. 

 (Kievan Rus' emissaries describing their visit to the cathedral in 987): 

"We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth... for on earth there is no such splendor or such beauty, and we are at a loss how to describe it. We only know that God dwells there among men." 

Top 10 Religious Sites: Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida

I am beginning a new series of posts focused on my visits to Churches and Cathedrals around the world.  For those who have traveled with me you know that I want to look in every church.  In many cases I try to visit during one of the services.  I love hearing the organs and choirs when they perform and the feelings of being drawn to look upwards and inwards.  These truly are God-inspired, man-made edifices to the magnificence of God.  As such, I have visited hundreds of churches around the world.  Coming up with my top 10 will be difficult.  

Also, I wanted to thank you for reading and indulging me in my memories.  It has been helpful for me to pause and reflect on the blessings I have experienced through travel.  As I get older, it may be harder and harder for me to remember so these pictures and words will help.  I also want to add that all of the pictures included in my posts are ones that I have taken.  

My first choice (these are in no particular order) is one that will be the least familiar for you.  I didn't know about it until I visited some exchange students in Brazil.  Vinicius said he thought I might enjoy this trip outside of Sao Paulo and he was right.  Here is some information about it and why I was so excited to have visited it.  

Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cathedral Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida is a prominent Catholic basilica in Aparecida, Brazil. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Aparecida, the principal patroness of Brazil. It is the largest cathedral in the world, and the second largest Catholic church by interior area and volume, after St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

The site has its origins in the finding of a small dark clay statue of the Virgin Mary.^[5] According to local tradition, three fishermen were attempting to catch a large amount of fish in the Paraíba River for a banquet honoring the visit of São Paulo governor Pedro de Almeida in 1717.^[6] Despite their prayers, their attempts were fruitless until late in the day, one of the fishermen cast his net and pulled it back to find a headless statue of the Virgin Mary.^[7] Upon his next cast, he found the head.^[7] The group cleaned the statue, wrapped it in cloth, and returned to their task to find their fortunes had changed and they were able to obtain all the fish they needed. The statue is believed to be the work of Frei Agostino de Jesus, a monk residing in São Paulo.

From Google AI

The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in São Paulo, Brazil, is the world's largest Marian shrine and second-largest Catholic church. Drawing 10 to 12 million pilgrims yearly, it honors the 1717 miraculous black terracotta statue of Our Lady of Aparecida—the patroness of Brazil.

One of the things that impressed me was the number of pilgrims that it attracts each year.  I also read that October 12 is the official feast day and that over 1 million pilgrims descend on the site that day.  Travel Tip:  Don't go on October 12. :) There are many outlying buildings to help take of the pilgrims since the Basilica is not close to any major city.  Below is a picture of the walkway leading pilgrims to the church, some of the outlying buildings for pilgrims, and a mural of the fisherman that marked this site as important.  

The inside of the church is cavernous with multiple areas for services.  There are masses each hour of every day to meet the needs of the pilgrims coming to this place.  Here is a picture of what they come to see and why they worship at this place.  

The dark clay statue of the Virgin Mary they found in the river.  

Inside the amazing space created for worship.  

Thank you, Vinicius, for knowing that I would enjoy this stop.  Just a little different than the Baptist Church he went to when he was with us.  

“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!”  Pope John Paul II

Top 10 Travel Experiences - Compiled List

 The list is finished! 

These have been chosen based on the awe and wonder felt when I was there.  There is usually something special about the circumstances or timing of each event.  I have not been able to determine an order.  I have listed them in order of when I created the post.  I will need to do another list of special churches that I have visited because many of them would be on this list and would make it impossible to narrow to ten. 

My hope is that you will get to visit some of these in your lifetime and if not that you can enjoy the pictures and feel the joy that they bring.

1.  Sunset at the Temple of Poseidon

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-temple-of.html

2.  Sunrise in Venice

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-sunrise-in.html

3.  The Great Wall of China

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-great-wall-of.html

4.  The Colosseum in Rome

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-colosseum-in.html

5.  The Fjords in Norway

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-fjords-in.html

6.  Sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey (hot air balloon ride)

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/hot-air-balloon-ride-at-sunrise-in.html

7.  Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-royal.html

8.  Oberammergau, Germany Passion Play

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-oberammergau.html

9. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-ha-long-bay.html

10.  The Grand Canyon, USA

https://southtangifoodie.blogspot.com/2026/07/top-10-travel-experiences-grand-canyon.html

Top 10 Travel Experiences: The Grand Canyon

 The Grand Canyon

As I was trying to decide what would be the last experience I included on my Top 10 Travel Experiences over the last 25 years, I went back to the defining characteristics I was using the decide.  Experiences that brought feelings of awe and wonder.  An overwhelming sense of this being a special place, time, or significance.  Although I had been focusing on my international travels, I kept coming back to the feeling that I had when visiting the Grand Canyon.  

As referenced before, the first time I saw the canyon I began to sing "How Great Thou Art" to God for making such a beautiful place that inspires awe and wonder about the creator of this world and the universe.  I'm sure it is a similar feeling felt by astronauts from space.  Your mouth hangs open and you just say "wow."  That was me at the Grand Canyon and not just the first time, but every time I have visited over the years.  As you will be able to see from the pictures below, I have visited the Grand Canyon many times over the last 25 years - I would guess about 8 times.  Many times I brought my exchange students and one time I also include two nephews.  Almost every time we stayed inside the park to experience both sunrise and sunset.  I also liked to go during the off seasons - easier and cheaper to stay inside parks.  There is nothing like going outside your room and seeing the canyon at all hours of the day.  

Travel Tips:  When possible stay inside or close to the places you are visiting.  That is easier to do when you travel in the off season.  There where a couple of times that we visited during the winter time.  

Also, our National Parks are a true treasure of the United States of America.  I recommend visiting as many of them as possible.  Bring your children.  It will leave lasting memories and an appreciation of the beautiful world God has created for us.  

Here are some pictures of me and several exchange students and nephews who I brought to see this amazing wonder.  

"We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. Why do we go? Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor than there is in beholding self.”

- John Piper