Hagia Sophia

If your visit to Istanbul will include some time at Hagia Sophia, which it should, this book will provide a beautiful and readable introduction to just what it is you will be looking at. The short text, translated from the Turkish original (and pretty obviously so), covers the founding of Byzantium, the building of the first wooden church and its early destruction, then rebuilding of the church, the nika riots during the time of Justinian, and the subsequent building of the third and mostly final Hagia Sophia. There is also some reference to the sacking of Constantinople by the Crusaders, the advent of the Ottoman Turks and the church's conversion to a mosque, and finally a short chronology of events related to the city and the great church. The text sometimes reads quaintly because of the effects of the translation, but is factual and informative nonetheless. There are also many, many beautifully done color plates, with photographs of the interior and exterior of the church, close-ups of various sculptures, mosaics (stunning), paintings, and details of all kinds. These are very well done, totally engrossing, and allow views of aspects of the church you will not have access to from the floor of the church itself. They are gorgeous. If you plan to see the Hagia Sophia you should learn at least a little about it prior to going; and this book is a short and well done selection.