Today the Hagia Sophia is a museum and is in Istanbul, formerly Constantinople. It was built in the 6th century as a Byzantine church. The dome especially is considered an architectural masterpiece. In 1453 Constantinople was occupied by the Ottomans. Consequently the Haiga Sophia was looted and many wall paintings were destroyed. Thereafter, the Hagia Sophia was desecrated and transformed into a mosque. In the same year as the conquest, a minaret was built onto the former Sophia Church. Today the museum is surrounded by four Minarets.