Many vacationers to Istanbul, Turkey, could discover themselves at probably the most lovely sacred locations on the earth: the Hagia Sophia.
The traditional temple attracts scores of tourists from the West. It is recognized for its historical past as a Christian basilica for nearly 1,000 years earlier than changing into a mosque through the Ottoman Empire.
Officers at the moment are working to protect the historic domes of the monument — constructed between 532 and 537 AD — from the specter of earthquakes.
POPULAR CHURCH WILL CURB TOURIST CROWDS BY CREATING SEPARATE ‘SELFIE SPACE’
The renovation will reinforce the Hagia Sophia’s primary dome and half domes, changing the worn lead coverings and upgrading the metal framework, The Related Press (AP) reported.
In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founding father of the fashionable Republic of Turkey, reworked Hagia Sophia right into a museum.
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, is present process renovations to protect the historic mosque and former church from potential earthquake harm. (Danuta Hamlin/Fox Information)
Mehmet Selim Okten, building engineer and member of the scientific council overseeing the renovations, instructed AP a “new part” of building is about to start.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“On the finish of those three years, we have now targeted on the seismic security of Hagia Sophia, the minarets, the primary dome and the primary arches, particularly because of the anticipated Istanbul earthquake,” stated Okten.
The Hagia Sophia is a well-known mosque, museum and former church that includes uncommon Christian mosaics. (Danuta Hamlin/Fox Information)
The renovation comes after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey in 2023, destroying a whole bunch of buildings.
For extra Way of life articles, go to foxnews.com/life-style
Orkten stated building staff will have the ability to renovate extra safely and “study the constructing’s layers academically, together with harm it suffered from fires and earthquakes within the tenth and 14th centuries,” in line with AP.
The Hagia Sophia receives a mean of some 50,000 guests day by day. (Danuta Hamlin/Fox Information)
“A tower crane shall be put in on the jap facade, after which we are going to cowl the highest of this distinctive construction with a protecting body system,” he stated.
The Hagia Sophia receives a mean of round 50,000 guests day by day and roughly 6-7 million yearly, in line with Istanbul Deputy Akturkoglu.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Related Press and Danuta Hamlin of Fox Information contributed to this report.