The first three churches of Constantinople, Hagia Eirene, Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Apostles have not survived in their original form. Therefore, our knowledge of the early Byzantine Churches in Istanbul consists of what we know about the early Christian churches. The first churches of Christianity were inspired by the Basilica, an ancient Roman … [Read more...] about The Story of Byzantine Churches in Istanbul
OLD CITY
Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator
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 Church of the Monastery of Christ Pantocrator
Church of Saint Polyeuktos (Constantinople)
The ruins of The Church of Saint Polyeuktos were found during the construction of a road near the Valens Aqueduct in the 1960s. Although only ruins remain from the church, it is very important in terms of shedding light on an important period in Byzantine history. The church was built by Anicia Juliana, daughter of Olybrius, a former Western Roman emperor. The church, which … [Read more...] about Church of Saint Polyeuktos (Constantinople)
Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople (Istanbul)
This article is about Monastery of Stoudios, the most important monastery in Eastern Roman (Byzantine) history. Founded by a Roman aristocrat, the monastery had an important place in the political history of Constantinople. The church, which formed the core of the monastery, was dedicated to John the Baptist. Monastery of Stoudios, which was converted into a mosque under … [Read more...] about Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople (Istanbul)
Obelisk of Theodosius in the Hippodrome
Hippodrome of Constantinople was the place where the people of Istanbul had fun during the Roman and Byzantine periods. Chariot races between Blue and Green teams would cause great excitement. At the heart of the Hippodrome was an Obelisk brought from Ancient Egypt. In this article, I would like to share information about the history of the Obelisk of Theodosius. Foundation … [Read more...] about Obelisk of Theodosius in the Hippodrome
The Forum of Constantine in Istanbul
The Forum of Constantine was the largest square in Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire in late antiquity. Eastern Rome, known as the "Byzantine Empire" in modern history, had iconic structures built by Emperor Constantine. The most important of these were the Great Palace, the Church of the Holy Apostles and the Forum of Constantine. In this article, you can find … [Read more...] about The Forum of Constantine in Istanbul
Byzantine Cisterns of Constantinople, Istanbul
There are hundreds of cisterns under the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the Byzantine cisterns in Istanbul and help you understand what they were built for. In order to comprehend this subject, we will have to go on a journey in history and take a look at the Ancient Greek period of Istanbul. Byzantium as an ancient Greek … [Read more...] about Byzantine Cisterns of Constantinople, Istanbul
Saints SERGIUS & BACCHUS Church (Little Hagia Sophia)
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 Saints SERGIUS & BACCHUS Church (Little Hagia Sophia)
Blue Mosque History & Opening Hours (Updated 2022)
Blue Mosque is one of the most popular historical places in Istanbul. Located in the Sultanahmet district, the mosque dates back to the 17th century. Although the mosque is associated with blue due to its decoration, its original name is Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Blue Mosque has all the classical period decoration elements of the Ottoman Empire. Among them, there are blue colored … [Read more...] about Blue Mosque History & Opening Hours (Updated 2022)
Golden Horn Map, History, Neighborhoods
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 Golden Horn Map, History, Neighborhoods