Enrico Dandolo’s Grave – Fourth Crusade and Hagia Sophia Upper Gallery

Enrico Dandolo (c. 1107–1205), the Doge of Venice, helped steer the Fourth Crusade toward Constantinople. The city fell in 1204; Hagia Sophia was looted; Dandolo died soon after and was buried here. His original tomb was destroyed later, but a gravestone in the upper gallery marks the traditional spot.

Who Was Dandolo?

• Long‑lived and partially blind, Dandolo was Venice’s leader during the Fourth Crusade.
• He aligned crusading debt with Venetian interests, ultimately diverting the expedition to Constantinople.
• The 1204 sack of the city changed Byzantine fortunes and reverberates in memory and politics to this day.

The Grave in Hagia Sophia

• Follow the upper gallery route back toward the Marble Door. On the floor lies a gravestone slab believed to mark Dandolo’s burial.

• The original tomb was destroyed during the Ottoman period; the stone is a memorial placed near the presumed location.

  Tip: Step lightly, wait your turn to read the inscription, and avoid blocking the passage. Photos are allowed; skip flash and angle your camera to reduce glare.

Context Nearby (Don’t Miss)

• Just inside the Marble Door is the great Deësis mosaic (1261): Christ Pantocrator flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, pleading for mercy on Judgment Day.
• Around the southeast corner of the gallery, find imperial panels — the Komnenos mosaic and the Empress Zoe panel — icons of Byzantine court image‑making.

Visiting Notes (2025)

• The upper gallery is the ticketed area open to tourists; check local boards for Friday timings.
• Dress modestly, move quietly, and respect worship spaces below when services begin.

Image Highlights

Bottom Line

The Dandolo stone is a small object with a big afterlife — a tangible link to the 1204 turning point and the layered identities of Hagia Sophia.