Hagia Sophia Church The Hagia Sophia Church, also known as the Church of the Holy Wisdom, is located in the heart of Trabzon and is considered a prime example of late Byzantine architecture, making it a top attraction for visitors. It was built in the 1250s-1260s, near the end of Emperor Manuel I's reign (1231-1263) of the Empire of Trebizond. However, when Trabzon was conquered by Mehmet II (1451-1561) in 1461, it was converted into a mosque and the frescoes were whitewashed in accordance with Islamic law, which prohibits the use of "idols" and images in religious buildings. Between 1958 and 1964, the colorful frescoes of Hagia Sophia were uncovered, restored, and stabilized by teams from Edinburgh University working with the Turkish Directorate of Foundations. In 1964, it was opened as a museum and has since become a popular tourist destination. The narthex, an area filled with frescoes that is not part of the worship area, is now part of the museum and is located outside the main building. The church measures 22 meters in length, 11.6 meters in width, and 12.7 meters in height, and its walls are decorated with late 13th-century frescoes depicting themes from the New Testament. The external stone carvings feature figurative reliefs and other ornamentation that are consistent with local traditions found in Armenia and Georgia. A bell tower that is 40 meters tall and located 24 meters west of the church houses a small chapel on its second floor. The interior of the bell tower is covered in frescoes and served as an observatory for local astronomers.