Two months ago, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Art History Association, Sherif Yasar, sounded the alarm about Hagia Sophia, saying that if it is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake
The decision of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to impose an entry ticket to Hagia Sophia for foreign tourists will come into effect tomorrow, January 15.
The ministry has completed the separation of entrances for those who will enter the monument as pilgrims and those who will visit it for cultural or tourist purposes. The entrance fee for foreigners entering the historic mosque for tourist purposes is 25 euros.
A related announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism states: "As part of the restoration and protection of the monument started by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy, it is planned to install a ticket office in a specific place that has already been prepared for visitors and will be put into operation on January 15th.
In addition, security cameras, fire detection systems and emergency notification systems have been installed, while protective measures have been taken along the mosque's sightseeing route."
Free for citizens of Turkey
In the same announcement it is emphasized, according to the correspondent of ERT, that "citizens of the Turkish Republic who will visit the mosque for purposes of religious worship will continue to enter for free from the entrance provided for this reason".
In the Turkish press reports it is pointed out that the cleaning and protection works of the marble covers and the wooden railings on the floor of the gallery of the monument were carried out by conservators after the approval and supervision of the competent scientific committee.
Also with a special headset system and through a QR code visitors will be able to be informed about the monument in 23 languages in a quiet environment without disturbing the pilgrims who will be praying at it.
Static issue
Two months ago, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Art History Association, Sherif Yasar, sounded the alarm about the Hagia Sophia, saying that if it is not restored, it will collapse in the first earthquake as "pieces fall from the connecting points". .
He requested that visits to the monument be drastically limited and that groups of no more than 25 people be accepted. "Even the breath of the hundreds of people reduces the lifespan of the historic building," he said characteristically.
The danger of the monument collapsing was also pointed out by Ilber Ortaili, a well-known historian in Turkey. “It needs to be closed and restored. If they're smart, they'll close it," he said on a TV show.
Last summer, the Turkish minister announced projects to strengthen the stability of Hagia Sophia, in the context of the restoration of important historical monuments of Istanbul.
According to the restoration plan approved by the relevant committee, the cement mortar will first be cleaned, the aging lead surfaces on the domes will be removed and work will be carried out to repair the cracks and splits under the dome. The lead cover will then be repaired and replaced. The first minaret, the so-called Bayezid minaret, will also be dismantled and, once the repairs are completed, put back in place. In the other minarets, the study of their static condition continues.
Source: IN