Hagia Sophia Ablution Fountain

In 1453 Ehmet the Conqueror converted Hagia Sophia mosque, the hitherto most important church in Christendom. Small "reforms" were made, such as providing a place inside as "mihrab" (oriented to Mecca towards which all believers direct their prayers instead) and building a fountain for prayer before baths. The fountain in the actual gardens of Hagia Sophia dates from the eighteenth century but then, as now, Muslims have to follow the same rite as a sign of purity and sincerity where Allah wants washed face, arms, head, ears and feet always in this order and continuously. The tradition of washing

Worth getting up early to see the Aya Sofya as the sun is rising amazingly beautiful.