Turkey's Hagia Sophia will open to visitors outside prayer times and its Christian icons will remain, religious officials said on Tuesday, after a court ruling paved the way for it to become a mosque.

Built in the 12th century under Norman rule, it boasts Italy's largest Byzantine-style mosaics, second in the world only to those of Hagia Sophia in ... they got to the ceiling, they realised ...

The Basilica Cistern is located in the historic center of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet district opposite Hagia Sophia. The ceiling of the building is supported by 336 columns, standing in 12 rows ...