Reviewed Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Located in the heart of İznik, a town steeped in history and surrounded by ancient walls, the Ayasofya Mosque is one of Turkey’s most underrated historical treasures. Unlike its grand namesake in Istanbul, the Ayasofya of İznik is a much more modest structure but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in historical and spiritual depth. This building has witnessed over 1,500 years of religious, political, and cultural change. Originally constructed as a Byzantine church in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, it played a central role in the religious debates of the time. Most notably, it was the site of the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 AD, which helped shape the course of Christian theology by restoring the veneration of icons. ...More