Türkiye has launched one of the most ambitious restoration projects in decades at the Hagia Sophia, aiming to reinforce its iconic dome against structural risks in a region prone to earthquakes.
The work, which began this week, will focus on addressing weak points identified during recent seismic simulations, experts said on Monday. The project follows over a decade of restoration efforts across other parts of the 1,486-year-old monument.
Originally constructed as the largest cathedral of the Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia stood as the world’s largest church for nearly 900 years before its conversion into a mosque in 1453 under Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. In 1934, Türkiye’s secular republic turned the site into a museum, but it was reconverted into a mosque by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2020.
“It is truly a structure full of surprises,” said Byzantine art historian Asnu Bilban Yalçın. “You plan for one thing, but once you open up the structure, new needs emerge.”
The dome will be carefully covered before its existing lead layer is removed, explained Ahmet Güleç, a specialist in cultural property conservation. The team will then begin structural reinforcement based on prior modelling of earthquake scenarios.
Hasan Fırat Diker, a professor at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University, said the full extent of damage or risk may only become clear once the cover is lifted.
Despite the complexity of the task, the site will remain open for both worship and tourism throughout the project — a factor that complicates the work further.
Officials have not given a timeline for completion, citing possible delays from weather or unexpected restoration needs.
Universal’s new theme park in Bedford has secured government support worth around £500 million for rail and road upgrades, as part of a wider package to boost infrastructure ahead of the park’s planned 2031 opening.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the dismissal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, characterising it as politically motivated while acknowledging Netanyahu’s leadership during recent conflicts.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 26th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a nearly $900 billion defence plan for 2026, keeping spending flat but shifting firepower toward cutting-edge missiles and drones in a bid to counter China and modernise America’s military edge.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is visiting Central America to strengthen cooperation on curbing drug trafficking and reducing undocumented migration to the U.S., meeting leaders in Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras.
Universal’s new theme park in Bedford has secured government support worth around £500 million for rail and road upgrades, as part of a wider package to boost infrastructure ahead of the park’s planned 2031 opening.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the dismissal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, characterising it as politically motivated while acknowledging Netanyahu’s leadership during recent conflicts.
Deadly floods have swept through southwest China’s Guizhou province, claiming at least six lives and forcing tens of thousands to flee as rivers surge to levels not seen in half a century.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 26th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a nearly $900 billion defence plan for 2026, keeping spending flat but shifting firepower toward cutting-edge missiles and drones in a bid to counter China and modernise America’s military edge.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The planet is still on track to near 10 billion people by 2050, yet most families are having fewer children than they want. Longer lives, lower fertility and uneven migration now demand a rethink of how societies support parents and care for an ageing population.
North Korea has opened a large coastal resort in its eastern Kalma region, with leader Kim Jong Un describing the project as a key development in the country’s tourism sector, according to state media.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the dismissal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, characterising it as politically motivated while acknowledging Netanyahu’s leadership during recent conflicts.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 26th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Deadly floods have swept through southwest China’s Guizhou province, claiming at least six lives and forcing tens of thousands to flee as rivers surge to levels not seen in half a century.
Universal’s new theme park in Bedford has secured government support worth around £500 million for rail and road upgrades, as part of a wider package to boost infrastructure ahead of the park’s planned 2031 opening.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the dismissal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, characterising it as politically motivated while acknowledging Netanyahu’s leadership during recent conflicts.
Deadly floods have swept through southwest China’s Guizhou province, claiming at least six lives and forcing tens of thousands to flee as rivers surge to levels not seen in half a century.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 26th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a nearly $900 billion defence plan for 2026, keeping spending flat but shifting firepower toward cutting-edge missiles and drones in a bid to counter China and modernise America’s military edge.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment