Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia Temple is a rare example of an iconoclastic church (726-787) combining the features of a cross-domed church and a basilica with three naves. Hagia Sophia was built at the turn of the 7th and 8th centuries on a 5th century church destroyed by an earthquake. Converted into a mosque by the Turks in 1523, it remained a place of Islamic worship until 1912 and the return of Thessaloniki into the Greek fold. In 1988, as a paleochristian and Byzantine monument, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Other nearby buildings

Church of Panagia Chalkeon

The church of Panagia Chalkeon, often called "red church", is a Byzantine church built in the 11th century on an old pagan house of worship. Two events affected the church in the twentieth century: a fire in 1917 and an earthquake in 1932, which caused considerable damage and led to the restoration of the Panagia Chalkeon. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a Byzantine monument in Thessaloniki.

Rotonda of Galerius

The Arch of Galerius and its nearby Rotunda, are ancient monuments built in the early fourth century. The complex to which they belonged was built during the reign of Emperor Galerius (305-311). During its existence, the Rotunda was used as a pagan temple (early fourth century), a church (late fourth century-1590/1912-), a mosque (1590-1912). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.