Turkey’s government hopes the new policies will help protect the 1,500-year-old landmark in Istanbul.
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Tourists hoping to visit the Hagia Sophia will now have to pay a fee to step inside the 1,500-year-old religious and cultural site in Istanbul, Turkey.
Officials have announced a €25 (roughly $27) admission charge for foreign travelers who want to visit the landmark for “cultural purposes,” according to a translated statement. The fee went into effect earlier this month, though Turkish nationals who wish to worship at the mosque can still enter for free.
Previously, the site had been free of charge for all visitors. The change is part of a greater effort to separate tourists and worshippers, who will now access the structure through separate entrances. Additionally,…