Hagia Sophia

Vize, Turkey

Primary attraction of the town. While officially named Gazi Süleyman Paşa Camii, this impressive religious edifice made of red brick typical of Byzantine monuments is colloquially called Küçük Ayasofya, i.e. "Little Hagia Sophia", in Turkish. Unlike other Hagia Sophias in Turkey, this former cathedral was never turned into a museum and still is a functioning mosque. Although there is not much art (neither Christian nor Islamic) to see inside the mosque, interior is visitable if the imam is notified, as the gate is locked during non-prayer hours because of a lack of sufficient congregation to keep it open all day.