Istanbul's Hagia Sophia to undergo "largest restoration in history" - to become more earthquake-resistant

Istanbul's Hagia Sophia will undergo one of the largest renovations in centuries.

The latter is even being considered the largest restoration in history.

It is about the Grand Mosque, one of the most enduring structures in world history, which was damaged and rebuilt several times – which was transformed into a church, a mosque, and a museum.

Recently, this architectural marvel was turned into a mosque by decision of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Since many buildings in the city of 16 million people, which is located just kilometers from an active seismic line, do not meet earthquake construction standards, the latest renovation also aims to ensure that it survives any possible earthquake that could hit the ancient city, reports the Telegraph.

Meanwhile, experts say this is the first time it will undergo a "total restoration," including the dome, walls, and minarets.

According to data, Hagia Sophia saw 7.7 million visitors pass through its vast interior last year.

About 2.1 million of them are foreign tourists, many of whom pay for an entrance ticket, generating millions of euros annually.

And officials hope that even the renovations won't prevent visitors from visiting it during the works, which are expected to last for several years.

Recall that in 2023, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 struck southeastern Turkey, destroying thousands of buildings and leaving more than 53,000 people dead.

Although Istanbul was not affected by this disaster, seismologists have warned for years that the Turkish metropolis is likely to suffer a 'major attack' with potentially catastrophic consequences before the end of this century, which could cause the collapse of thousands of buildings if timely measures are not taken. /Telegraph/