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On Monday, January 15, Turkey initiated the imposition of a substantial entrance fee for international tourists wishing to visit the renowned sixth-century edifice, Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul. This architectural marvel, which underwent a contentious transformation into a mosque in 2020, now requires foreign visitors to pay 25 euros each for admission. This new tariff was conspicuously displayed at a secondary entrance designated for foreign nationals, while the primary portal is exclusively allocated for Turkish citizens.
The implemented fee grants entry to a constructed passageway, allowing visitors to explore Hagia Sophia without interrupting ongoing prayers. This access route, likened to a “garage entrance” by local media, represents a significant alteration from previous practices. On the day of its implementation, a meager number of tourists were observed complying with the fee, expressing surprise at this abrupt change. “It was free yesterday… Tourists are surprised,” conceded an official responsible for directing pedestrians, who opted for anonymity.
This financial requirement extends to non-Turkish Muslim visitors as well, irrespective of their intent to engage in prayer within the mosque. Hagia Sophia, originally erected as a Byzantine cathedral and once celebrated as the largest in the world, was transformed into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. In a move towards secularism, it was later converted into a museum as part of the modern Turkish republic’s efforts. However, in a move that pleased ardent religious followers but dismayed secularists, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reinstated its status as a mosque in 2020. This decision elicited criticism from various Western governments, Russia and Christian leaders.
The admission fee encompasses access to the upper gallery and the museum section of the UNESCO World Heritage site, a significant attraction for tourists globally. The introduction of this fee, as announced by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy in October 2023, marks a notable shift in the management and accessibility of this historic monument.
With AFP.
