İstanbul · Fatih · Turkey

Küçük Ayasofya Camii

Little Hagia Sophia

Religiousgoogle verified

~30 min

easy

8/10

spiritual

Built by Justinian in 527 as the Church of SS Sergius and Bacchus — a decade before its big sister Aya Sofya — this intimate octagonal mosque is a miniature architectural masterpiece. The column capitals are carved with Justinian and Theodora's monograms. Set in a quiet backstreet below the Blue Mosque, its peaceful courtyard with a çay bahçesi is everything the tourist crush above is not.