#Worship

Hagia Sophia will charge foreign tourists

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy held a press conference at the Atatürk Cultural Center to evaluate issues related to the agenda, including tourism data and the restoration of the Hagia Sophia Mosque. 'THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE PLACES OF WORSHIP OF TURKISH CITIZENS' Minister Ersoy used the following statements in his statement: "We are implementing visitor management practice in Hagia Sophia. Visit quality and security will be increased. Hagia Sophia, our apple of the eye mosque, the common heritage of humanity, our center of attraction, will be included in a very good ecosystem focused on conservation. There is no change in the places of worship of Turkish citizens who visit the mosque for worship. We are changing the entrance gate for visits of foreign citizens. We take them from the door on the upper level where the Topkapı Palace is located, there is a gallery, we put the gallery into service, show them around and let them exit through the exit door. By minimizing the intensity of visits and usage, the quality of visits and worship is increased. Visitors to Hagia Sophia will be informed in 16 languages via the application on their mobile phones. Visits by foreigners will be paid as of January 15. Worship and visit will be free for Turkish citizens."