Hagia Theodosia Church is one of the most important stops on my walking tour covering Cibali, Fener and Balat districts. The building, which is essentially a 1000-year-old church from the Byzantine period, is today known as the Gul Mosque. St Theodosia was an iconophile woman who was killed by Roman soldiers during the Byzantine iconoclasm. When the period of anti-iconism, … [Read more...] about Hagia Theodosia Church (Gul Mosque) in Istanbul
OLD CITY
The Church of the Holy Apostles (Istanbul) 2025
The Church of the Holy Apostles was the second largest church in Constantinople (Istanbul) during the Byzantine period. The most important emperors in Byzantine history were buried in this church. The church dedicated to the Holy Apostles was destroyed during the Ottoman period and Fatih Mosque was built in its place. In this article you can find information about the … [Read more...] about The Church of the Holy Apostles (Istanbul) 2025
Kadir Has University (former Cibali Tobacco Factory)
Kadir Has University is essentially a tobacco factory built in the 19th century. Located on the southern shores of the Golden Horn, this structure is also known as Cibali Tobacco Factory, as it is identified with the name of the district it is located in. In the 19th century, tobacco was one of the main export products of the Ottoman Empire. For this reason, tobacco … [Read more...] about Kadir Has University (former Cibali Tobacco Factory)
15 Byzantine Churches in Istanbul (2026 Update)
Istanbul’s Byzantine churches are not just religious buildings — they are the surviving fragments of a city that once defined the spiritual and political center of the Eastern Roman world. Some of these monuments have disappeared entirely, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles. Others survive only as ruins. But many still stand today, either as mosques, museums, or active … [Read more...] about 15 Byzantine Churches in Istanbul (2026 Update)
Monastery of Christ Pantocrator (Zeyrek Mosque) 2024
Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator is located in Fatih district of Istanbul. The building, which attracts attention with its grandeur when looking at the Historical Peninsula from the Golden Horn, serves as the Zeyrek Mosque today. The Pantocrator Monastery was built in the late Byzantine period, and its church was the third most important religious building in … [Read more...] about Monastery of Christ Pantocrator (Zeyrek Mosque) 2024
Little Hagia Sophia (Sergius & Bacchus Church) → 2025
Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus was the first architectural work of the famous Byzantine emperor Justinian in Istanbul. During the early years of Justinian's reign, he had conflicts with the Roman aristocracy and built this church as a show of strength. Built under the joint reign of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, this church had very innovative architecture … [Read more...] about Little Hagia Sophia (Sergius & Bacchus Church) → 2025
Blue Mosque Opening Hours & Entrance Fee (2026 Update)
In the heart of Istanbul’s historic peninsula stands a structure so graceful, it seems to float above the city’s skyline. The Blue Mosque — known locally as Sultanahmet Camii — is not only a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture but also a living monument of faith and serenity. With its six slender minarets, cascading domes, and intricate Iznik tiles that give it its famous hue, … [Read more...] about Blue Mosque Opening Hours & Entrance Fee (2026 Update)
Things to Do in Golden Horn, Istanbul (Updated 2024)
Golden Horn was the natural harbor of Istanbul during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Goods brought from the Silk Road and Spice Road were exported to Europe from the port of Galata in Golden Horn. Today, the Golden Horn separates Istanbul's Historical Peninsula from Beyoglu. While there are historical districts such as Sultanahmet and Eminonu in the Historic Peninsula, … [Read more...] about Things to Do in Golden Horn, Istanbul (Updated 2024)
Byzantine Mosaics in Hagia Sophia: Stories Hidden in Gold (2026)
The mosaics of Hagia Sophia are not simply works of art. They are fragments of a civilization that once defined the world around the Mediterranean. Created between the 9th and 13th centuries, these mosaics belong to a period when the Byzantine Empire was redefining itself after centuries of theological conflict. Some of the earlier images had already been destroyed during … [Read more...] about Byzantine Mosaics in Hagia Sophia: Stories Hidden in Gold (2026)
Hagia Sophia: History and Architecture Explained (2026)
Hagia Sophia is not simply a historic building.It is a structure that has survived empires, belief systems, and centuries of structural stress without ever losing its central importance. For nearly 1,500 years, it has remained at the heart of Istanbul’s identity. It began as a cathedral of the Byzantine Empire, became an imperial mosque after the Ottoman conquest, was later … [Read more...] about Hagia Sophia: History and Architecture Explained (2026)