The urban legend about the existence of an extensive underground passage beneath Hagia Sophia in Constantinople has been confirmed by Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who referred to sections of tunnels with a total length of approximately 9 kilometers.

Speaking at a press conference in Kahramanmaraş, the Turkish minister said that cleaning and restoration work on the accessible sections is already underway, noting that in several places access is obstructed by collapses. “Once the work is completed, we can assess opening the appropriate and safe sections to visitors,” he stressed.

The minister’s reference to the underground routes follows a statement he made in February 2026, when he announced the documentation of tunnels dating back approximately 1,600 years.

Restoration Work at Hagia Sophia

At the same time, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy referred to the restoration, conservation and structural reinforcement work being carried out at Hagia Sophia, claiming that these are the most comprehensive interventions in the history of the Turkish Republic, “with the aim,” as he said, “of safely handing over this nearly 1,500-year-old building to future generations.”

According to him, as part of the works, restoration has been completed on the tombs, the Children’s School, the Clock Tower and the gallery floor, while the structural reinforcement of the northeastern minaret has also been completed.

The Turkish Culture Minister also noted that structural reinforcement and conservation of the mosaics are continuing on the main dome. “The temporary metal roof and protective covering system for the protection of the main dome have been completed. Thanks to a special platform created inside, documentation, cleaning and conservation work on the mosaics of the dome is being carried out, while religious services and visits continue,” he said.

“Structural analyses have also identified the need for reinforcement in the eastern semi-dome. In this section, alongside reinforcement of the support system, a new phase is beginning for the conservation of the mosaics, painted decorations and marble surfaces,” Mehmet Nuri Ersoy explained.