Saint Sophia
Saint Sophia
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
416 reviews
Excellent
195
Very good
162
Average
53
Poor
6
Terrible
0
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PPCI-BG
Bergamo, Italy1,24,323 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
The cathedral of Hagia Sophia is one of the major churches of Ohrid and is very ancient as it was built around the year 1000 on the remains of an early Christian church destroyed during the invasions of the Slavs (in an excavation you can see a Corinthian capital that fell and was overturned. Transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman rule it however preserved frescoes which have been restored representing a fine example of Byzantine painting of the time. Worth seeing.
Written 9 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karrempje
Vleuten, The Netherlands3,225 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Entrance is 150 dmk and you are inside. When we were there there was a large German group and the guide had a lot to say plus he just stood there where everyone wanted to take a photo. There are chairs so you can take your time to look around. It is light and not as dark as other churches.
Written 12 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Naija M
Algiers, Algeria1,057 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
As it’s located in the centre of the old town you are likely to come across this church. It’s well worth paying the small entrance fee to go inside. The grounds are well maintained and home to a family of tortoises.
Written 25 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Κατερίνα Ν
62 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Positives: A very beautiful Byzantine well-preserved church, in a very beautiful garden, easily accessible.
Negatives: 3 euro ticket to the church...seriously unacceptable. A souvenir stall in the churchyard...both of which indicate a lack of respect for the space..
Negatives: 3 euro ticket to the church...seriously unacceptable. A souvenir stall in the churchyard...both of which indicate a lack of respect for the space..
Written 7 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikolai M
Sofia, Bulgaria2,631 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
St. Sophia means Holy Wisdom. The long rule of Justinian the Great (1 April 527 - 11 November 565) constitutes a distinct epoch in the history of the Later Roman empire. According to the legend, he restored and built many churches dedicated to Saint Sophia. The largest of them is located in Constantinople, while the other one is the basilica in Serdika, which later becomes the name of the city of Sofia. St. Sophia in Ohrid was basically rebuilt for Tsar Samuel's coronation in 997 as a patriarchal cathedral in the form of a domed basilica. After the coronation, the church was a seated cathedral temple of the Patriarchate, and later of the Ohrid Archbishopric.
Written 11 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ELear
Ancona, Italy3,059 contributions
Sept 2013 • Solo
The paintings inside, my main reason for visiting the church, are badly damaged, but they're still as beautiful, delicate, alive and excitingly "different" as any I've seen anywhere in the Balkans. They need time though, and unfortunately I'd gone straight after breakfast, when the inside of the church was still rather chilly. Perhaps it would have got warmer later in the morning. Maybe the light would have been better too.
As always with Macedonian monasteries, the garden outside is beautifully kept, with an immaculate lawn and well-maintained, even paths. A place for meditation.
As always with Macedonian monasteries, the garden outside is beautifully kept, with an immaculate lawn and well-maintained, even paths. A place for meditation.
Written 9 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sabine_coussement
Sint-Kruis (Brugge)45 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
We sang there during a choir festival. The place is called a cathedral, not to be confused with the size of a cathedral in Europe. The fresco's are very nice, the outside of the building is very representative of what the typical architecture in Macedonia is ; most beautiful colonade outside. We felt it an honour that we were allowed to sing in such a sacred place. And mind your steps if you walk in the garden around the church: you might set your foot on one of the numerous turtles walking freely around !
Written 29 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Milan S
Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia192 contributions
Jul 2020
If you can book a place for some of the music concerts during the Ohrid summer festival, you will understand what I mean.
Written 21 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikola I
Hungary159 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
We had such a nice time and great talk to the people working there;
Thank you Oliver for the talk and your time showing us the meaning of Saint Sophia;
Thank you Oliver for the talk and your time showing us the meaning of Saint Sophia;
Written 25 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kj3
California32 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We heard the Royal Free Singers of Windsor in this 11th century church. Listening to the swells of the choir while studying the impressive medieval frescoes gave me goosebumps. There is something thrilling about listening to music in a church from an early century. Ask if there are any concerts planned and go. Memorable experience!
Written 1 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Codiţă C
Bucharest, Romania
I have several questions: The church can be visited on the inside? Is it allowed to take pictures of the frescoes?
Thank you.
Written 14 March 2015
Indeed it can be visited. Taking pictures is officially not allowed, but you have a good chance to succeed in it all the same, since normally there is only one guardian, the one that sell the tickets i the ticket booth. Good luck!
Written 14 March 2015
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