Istanbul: 9 km tunnels under Hagia Sophia revealedtranslated

Hagia Sophia attracts millions of visitors every year. However, beyond the dome, the mosaics and the architecture of the church, the monument also has another level, which extends below the surface of the ground and remains largely inaccessible to the public. The information given by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy at a press conference with journalists in Kahramanmaras about the restoration work in Hagia Sophia revealed new details about this unseen side of the monument.

Ersoy stated that extensive restoration works are being carried out in Hagia Sophia and indicated that these are not limited to the visible areas, but also extend to the sections below the building, which visitors cannot access.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy:

"Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi'nde söz etiyoladi tünel ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ağından ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi'nde takılın 9 kilometerye kadar."

"We can evaluate the opening of the visit after the work is completed."

https://t.co/rRuzOBesaC

— Yeni Şafak (@yenisafak) September 17, 2026

The minister mentioned that under Hagia Sophia there is an extensive network of passages and…