I’ll also explain why I needed these fairytale characters to tell the story of Istanbul from every possible perspective. And beyond them, I’ll introduce another fictional character — Stavros, a man living in New York — and share how all these narratives together formed a trilogy of storytelling projects.

How and Why Did the New Project Come About?

For almost two decades, I have worked in Istanbul’s tourism industry—first in hotels, then as a guide—sharing the beauty of this timeless city with curious travelers from around the world. Along the way, I began documenting my insights and experiences on my blog, Istanbul Clues, where I’ve published dozens of articles exploring everything from Hagia Sophia’s mosaics to the winding alleys of Fener and Balat.

As the blog grew, I realized something. Despite my best efforts — adding personal reflections, choosing evocative images, crafting carefully researched articles — I was still bound by a certain format. Writing about history often meant following a familiar pattern: names, dates, battles, dynasties. Even when I told the stories in my own words, they sometimes felt trapped within the rigid outlines of encyclopedic narration.

I began to wonder: was there a different way to tell Istanbul’s story?

That question stayed with me for years, simmering quietly in the background. I longed to explore history more poetically, more freely — not just as a sequence of events, but as a living memory, full of mood, shadow, sound, and spirit. But how could I do that in a way that readers would still find engaging and accessible?

The answer, it turns out, came from the world of fables. So now let me introduce you to my timeless fable characters, Alek, Misi and Rubi.

Meet Alek, Misi and Rubi

I created Alek, Misi, and Rubi — three animal characters who could say the things I couldn’t. Alek is a seagull who glides above the domes and towers, watching the centuries unfold from the sky. Misi is a black-and-white cat who curls around marble fountains and ancient stairways, attuned to the city’s melancholy heartbeat. Rubi is a small grey mouse who slips into forgotten corners and palace walls, collecting the whispers of the past.

Together, they became my voice in another dimension — one that isn’t limited by time, geography, or logic.

Alek can witness the founding of Byzantium in the 7th century BCE and the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, all from the same endless flight. Misi can sit beside an Ottoman scribe one moment and sleep beneath a Byzantine arch the next. Rubi can eavesdrop on emperors and servants alike, slipping through cracks in the floorboards of history.

With them, I could finally tell the kinds of stories I had always wanted to share: not cold lists of facts, but fables — imaginative, atmospheric, and rich with metaphor. Through them, I found a way to describe Istanbul not as a sequence of monuments, but as a city of memory, emotion, and myth.

About Istanbul Stories Website

Of course, these stories had to find a place somewhere else, not on Istanbul Clues, the website of local guide Serhat Engul, who has been sharing his knowledge in a formal style for years.

As a result, I thought about the domain name that would most evoke our stories about Istanbul, and thankfully, I found it available. Alek, Misi and Rubi will now be sharing their stories on our site called “Istanbul Stories”, and you can visit it by clicking the link below.

Here, you’ll find poetic narratives that blend historical truth with literary wonder, inspired by the timeless tradition of Aesop, La Fontaine, Italo Calvino, and Neil Gaiman. Each story is a doorway into a different layer of the city — one where animals speak, stones remember, and time itself becomes elastic.

Istanbul Stories is not a replacement for Istanbul Clues — it is a companion. Where one gives you the historical facts, the other offers the city’s dreams.

If you’ve ever felt that Istanbul has secrets it hasn’t told you yet, come meet Alek, Misi, and Rubi. They’ve been watching, waiting, and whispering for centuries.

You can read Alek’s, Misi’s and Rubi’s story inspired by the Hippodrome of Constantinople here:
👉 The Obelisk of Theodosius – Three Witnesses of a Stone

The Completing Piece of the Trilogy

However, even after softening existing themes like the Hippodrome of Constantinople in the fabled universe of Istanbul Stories and presenting stories such as Three Witnesses of a Stone: The Obelisk of Theodosius, I felt there was still something missing.

Why not tell the story of Constantinople between 330 and 1453 — the late antique and medieval period in which I specialize — through a human lens, much like the fictional novels that have inspired me over the years?

Authors I admire, such as Dean Koontz and Paulo Coelho, have created characters who transcend the physical boundaries of this world, exploring the depths of human psychology and spirituality, and writing novels that are both profound and enjoyable to read.

And yet, I still wanted to bridge the poetic and the human — the mythical and the real. Could I express my historical knowledge in a language similar to theirs? For a long time, the answer was no.

But with the advancement of technology and the support of artificial intelligence, this vision finally became possible. With the help of powerful AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini, I decided to add a third element to this narrative universe. Thus, the human–AI collaboration gave birth to the Byzantine Stories website and the character Stavros.

Now, within this new dimension, we can time-travel to any period of the Byzantine era — whether as a seagull (Alek) soaring above the city, a cat (Misi) wandering beneath its walls, a mouse (Rubi) listening from within the cracks, or as a human (Stavros) walking the streets and conversing with emperors themselves.

I now have an unlimited creative field with which to tell my stories, and I’m genuinely excited about it. From now on, we’ll have not only encyclopedic knowledge through Istanbul Clues, but also fabled characters who transcend time and space — and even a human who journeys through history in dreams.

You can read Stavros’s first dream, set in the year 811, here:
👉 Episode I – The Battle of Pliska

🌙 Three Websites, One Soul: Telling Istanbul’s Story

My journey to tell Istanbul’s story has led me to create a trilogy of websites — each revealing a different face of the same city.

• 🕯️ The Guide’s Voice – IstanbulClues.com:
  Where history lives in detail. A guide’s insight into Istanbul’s monuments, culture, and Byzantine & Ottoman heritage.
• 🐾 The Fable’s Magic – IstanbulStories.com:
  Where a seagull, a cat, and a mouse tell the city’s dreams. A fable universe inspired by timeless storytelling.
• 🕊️ The Human Echo – ByzantineStories.com
  Where the human side of Byzantium comes alive through literary fiction — exploring the souls behind the stones.

Each tells a different story, yet all share the same heart: Istanbul.

Written by Serhat Engul

The post Rewriting Istanbul’s History with Alek, Misi and Rubi! appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

In this article, you can find information about the Forum of Constantine, which was built in Istanbul, the capital of the Roman Empire in the East. You can also see at the end of the article why the Column of Constantine in the Forum began to be called “Cemberlitas” during the Ottoman period.

In order to talk about the history of the Forum of Constantine, we will have to take a journey through history. We will also talk about Constantine moving his throne from Rome to Constantinople and the architectural development of the new capital. Let’s start by hoping you enjoy this article.

Reforms of Emperor Constantine in Rome

Emperor Constantine holds a special place in history because he was the first Roman Emperor to accept Christianity. The Roman Empire, which had a polytheistic belief, entered a new era with Constantine’s reign and completed its religious transformation within the following 50 years.

Emperor Constantine’s reforms determined the future of the world and laid the foundations for a new Roman Empire centered in the East (Byzantium). The ancient capital of Rome, which was under threat from the endless attacks of the barbarians, lost its importance from the time of Constantine and was replaced by Constantinople (Istanbul).

New Capital Constantinople

Constantine’s emergence from the Tetrarchy Period as the sole ruler signaled a change. The four-emperor regime brought by Emperor Diocletian collapsed in just 30 years and was replaced by a single emperor once again.

Emperor Constantine, who was greatly respected by the Roman army, gained infinite power after defeating his last rival, Licinius. He was now the sole ruler of Roman lands stretching from Spain to Mesopotamia.

The first thing Constantine did was to abandon Rome, the symbol of the old empire. He wanted to establish a capital closer to the trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

It is rumored that Constantine considered Nicomedia and Troy as the new capital. However, he ultimately decided on Byzantium, a small Greek colony. Byzantium was the first hill of Istanbul, where historical monuments such as Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are located today.

By order of Emperor Constantine, construction of the new capital was undertaken between 324 and 330. The city, initially named “New Rome”, was to resemble the ancient capital of the empire, Rome. Architects, engineers and artists flocked here. At the end of intensive work, the construction of the new capital was completed on May 11, 330.

The new capital Constantinople, established roughly within the borders of today’s Sultanahmet district, did not yet cover the entirety of today’s Historical Peninsula.

The city, which developed rapidly since the day it was founded, began to be insufficient during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) and was therefore expanded.

The famous walls of Constantinople (Theodosian Walls) were built in 413. Thus, the legendary Byzantine capital, which spread completely over the peninsula south of the Bosphorus, emerged.

Forum of Constantine, an Iconic Building

During Emperor Constantine’s construction of the New Rome, many monumental structures were added to the city. The most important of these were of course the Great Palace, the Church of the Apostles, the Hippodrome and the Forum of Constantine.

Not much has survived from these first monumental structures of the city. However, the Column of Constantine, which adorned the center of the Forum of Constantine, can still be seen.

When we examine these structures built in the early period of the city, we see that the emperor attached great importance to the new capital. He wanted the city to be magnificent and sacred just like Rome. The Great Palace, where the emperors would live, and the Hippodrome, where races would be held in honor of the emperor, were built side by side.

In addition, the Forum of Constantine, a giant square where people would come together, was designed. Finally, the Church of the Holy Apostles, dedicated to the apostles of Jesus, was built to attribute holiness to the city.

The Mystery of the Column of Constantine

In Roman culture, where monumental columns were very important, the Forum of Constantine was also given a sacred meaning. Because, according to Christian historians, some sacred relics were placed under the column in the Forum of Constantine.

The wooden handle of the ax that allowed Noah to build his ship, the rock from which Moses gushed water, and a piece of the true cross on which Jesus was crucified were buried under the column. Of course, these claims are just rumors and their authenticity has not been proven. However, they still attribute mystery to the Column of Constantine.

The Column of Constantine, located right next to the Cemberlitas Tram Station in today’s Istanbul, is purple, the royal color during the Roman period. This rare color also adorned imperial robes and boots.

Between Paganism and Christianity

According to Christian historians and tradition, Emperor Constantine, who was considered a “Saint”, was a perfect Christian. However, when we examine the things Constantine did in depth, we see that he had his own unique understanding of religion.

Christianity, which had been suppressed by Roman emperors for years, was released with the Edict of Milan issued by Constantine and had just begun to spread to the masses in Roman lands.

In this period when religious lines were still unclear, we see that Constantine had a harmonizing approach. The emperor wanted to create a blend between the Roman people, who were still largely Pagan, and Christianity and tried to bring the two sides together.

The reflections of this transition period were hidden in the column in the Forum of Constantine. At the top of the column was a Statue of Apollo, believed to have been brought from Troy. This statue was of course a pagan symbol.

The head of the sun god Apollo was adorned with seven rays. Nails symbolizing the Passion of Christ were driven between the rays. In other words, the statue made references to both the past and the future of Rome.

Forum of Constantine in the Byzantine Era

Throughout the Byzantine period, the Forum of Constantine remained the largest square in the city. With the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476, Constantinople’s importance reached its peak. The Roman cult would be kept alive by the Byzantine Empire (or Eastern Roman Empire), which was now the legal heir of ancient Rome.

The empire experienced its most glorious years during the reign of Emperor Justinian. However, the statue that witnessed the city’s best years was destroyed in a storm in 1104. A cross was placed here so that the top of the column would not remain empty.

Constantinople, despite its ups and downs, managed to remain the largest and richest city in the world until the Sack of Constantinople in 1204. During the Latin occupation between 1204 and 1261, the city’s most beautiful monuments were plundered.

Crusaders who set out from Europe in the early 1200s attacked Constantinople under the command of the “Doge of Venice” Enrico Dandolo and stole the most beautiful works in the city and took them to Venice, Italy.

In this incident that took place during the 4th Crusade, all of the gold, silver and bronze statues and icons in the city were stolen. Some of the works were washed to the bottom of the Mediterranean in sunken ships, while others were used to decorate historical structures in Venice.

The Crusaders who occupied the city in 1204 established a Latin Empire that would last until 1261. When the Byzantines took back their capital in 1261, the most beautiful churches, palaces and squares of the city were in ruins.

As a result, Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, could not overcome the destruction caused by the Crusades and never returned to its former glory. Magnificent structures such as the Forum of Constantine lost their former beauty.

The Forum of Constantine is now Cemberlitas

The Ottoman Principality, established in Anatolia in the 1300s, conquered all the lands around Constantinople within 150 years. Finally, in 1453, Constantinople fell and the city became the capital of the rising Ottoman Empire.

The Ottomans preserved the city’s main street, the Mese, and the squares on it. The reason why the Column of Constantine is called Cemberlitas (column decorated with circles) is that iron clamps were nailed around the column, which was renovated during the Ottoman period.

The support clamps prevented the column from breaking apart due to earthquakes and ensured its survival to the present day. These support circles, which start from the base of the Column of Cemberlitas and go up to its top, gave their name to both the column and the district over time.

Conclusion

In this article, we talked about the Forum of Constantine, which has an important place in Istanbul’s history. The Forum of Constantine, one of the first structures of the Roman period, and the column in its center are today in the Cemberlitas district of Istanbul Old City.

Finally, in this article, I included the images I produced through ChatGPT. ChatGPT’s visual-producing extension called DALL-E is very useful in animating these historical writings.

I created the first three images in the article through DALL-E. I was able to get these outputs after giving detailed explanations to the artificial intelligence. Of course, when examined carefully, there are many historical errors in these images. On the other hand, they serve to support our imagination.

If you are interested in the history of Istanbul, you can find many articles related to these topics on the blog page of this site. For example, if you are interested in Byzantine structures in Istanbul, you can find my detailed article at this link.

Written by Serhat Engul

The post The Forum of Constantine in Istanbul today appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

The church was built by Anicia Juliana, daughter of Olybrius, a former Western Roman emperor. The church, which was the most magnificent structure of Constantinople in the years it was built, was dedicated to a Christian martyr named Saint Polyeuktos.

History of The Church of St. Polyeuctus

In order to talk about the history of the Church of St. Polyeuctus, it is necessary to take a short journey into the history of the Eastern Roman Empire. Because the church was built as a result of a political conflict between the Roman aristocrats and the future great emperor Justinian.

To tell the story properly, we will need to rewind a bit. We will briefly talk about the 4th and 5th centuries, when the center of power of the Roman Empire shifted to the east. Let’s start our article with the hope that you will enjoy reading it.

1. The New Capital Constantinople

After Constantinople became the new capital, many things changed in the Roman Empire. The most important of these was the Hellenization of the Latin cult in Eastern Rome, but this is beyond our scope as it was a process that would take centuries.

The most rapid change after Emperor Constantine (Constantine), who paved the way for Christianity to spread to the masses in Rome, was the increasing importance of Christianity in Roman administration.

2. Rise of the Christianity in the State

The bishops, whose powers were determined by the decisions taken in the Council of Nicaea, began to overshadow the authority of the Roman emperors. We see that Theodosius I (379-395), who reigned about 50 years after the Emperor Constantine, kneel before Saint Ambrose (Archbishop of Milan) for his sins.

In the period of Leo I (457-474), the tradition of raising the new emperor on the shields of the soldiers had ended. Instead, the Patriarch of Constantinople began crowning the emperors.

Constantine, Theodosius and Leo were the emperors who accelerated Rome’s transition from Paganism to Christianity. For this reason, they were called “Great” by the Church.

However, after moving to the new capital Constantinople, religious beliefs were not the only thing that changed. The rule of choosing Emperors only among Romans ended. The end of this tradition with the crowning of Emperor Zeno was the result of the rise of barbarian soldiers in the Roman army.

3. Rise of Barbarian Soldiers in the Army

For example, General Aspar, who was the “Chief of Staff” at the time, played a major role in the accession of Emperor Leo I to the throne. Soldiers of barbarian origin had now reached the highest levels in the army and were directing policy.

If it had been possible, Aspar would have wanted to ascend to the throne himself. However, at that time, it was still not accepted for barbarians to ascend to the throne. However, this rule would change only a generation later.

An Isaurian general who married the daughter of Emperor Leo changed his name to Zeno. This paved the way for the first emperor of barbarian origin to ascend to the throne.

Zeno, who reigned between 474 and 491, was never accepted by the Roman aristocracy and the people. Therefore, it was expected that the next emperor would be identical with the traditional values ​​of Rome.

In other words, according to the people’s wishes, the next emperor had to be someone who had both an “Orthodox” Christian belief, as in the decisions made by the Council of Nicaea, and also a true “Roman”.

The people demonstrated their will in arenas such as the Hippodrome of Constantinople and shouted to the empress, “Give us an Orthodox emperor, give us a Roman emperor!” (Byzantium: The Early Centuries by John Julius Norwich).

4. Reign of Emperor Anastasius I

After Zeno’s death, the person his wife Empress Ariadne would marry would become the new emperor of Rome. She married the 60-year-old charismatic bureaucrat Anastasius.

In this way, both the people and the senate were pleased. Anastasius, a successful and noble bureaucrat, ruled successfully between 491 and 518.

However, when Emperor Anastasius died, there was no heir to take the throne. Since the empress was no longer alive, the army would have to choose who would ascend to the throne.

In such an environment, the name of Justin, the commander of the palace guards, was put forward. Justin, who ascended to the throne with tens of thousands shouting his name in the Hippodrome, was Roman and Orthodox, but he could not even read and write!

5. Reign of Emperor Justin I

The Roman senate and aristocrats had a reason to complain again. Because the new emperor was a peasant who had emigrated from Thrace in his youth! However, no matter how uneducated he was, Justin was not a simple person.

He had come to Constantinople as an ordinary person, and had managed to rise to the level of commander of the palace guards. He was an excellent soldier and was highly respected by the army.

While the Roman aristocracy in the capital waited for Justin to fail, it became clear how far-sighted the new emperor was. Because while Justin was still a high-ranking officer, he had brought his nephew named “Petrus Sabbatius” from his village in Thrace and ensured that he received an excellent education in Constantinople.

Emperor Justin of course knew that he was not equipped to properly manage state affairs. For this reason, he had his nephew Peter elected as “Consul” and handed over bureaucratic duties to him.

Peter, an excellent statesman, was later made co-emperor with the title of “Caesar” and it was certain that he would be the next ruler. At this time, he changed his name to “Justinianus”.

6. Daughter of Olybrius, Anicia Juliana

Anicia Juliana, whose father Olybrius had briefly served as the Western Roman Emperor, was one of the most established members of the Roman court.

When Anicia’s son “Olybrius the Younger” married the nephew of Emperor Anastasius, she believed that he would be the next emperor after the elder Anastasius.

However, Anastasius had not chosen a successor as “Caesar” before his death. Anicia Juliana was disappointed when Justin, the commander of the palace guard, had hastily ascended to the throne.

Since Justin was not young either, Anicia still believed that someone from her own family could ascend to the throne in the future. However, Anicia’s dreams were dashed when Justin’s young nephew “Petrus” was declared the successor under the name “Justinianus.”

Realizing that she had no claim to the Roman throne, Anicia Juliana decided to show a symbolic reaction. She would spend her family’s great fortune on building a magnificent church and demonstrate the superiority of the Roman aristocracy.

Thus, she set out to build the most beautiful church in Constantinople. It would be named St Polyeuctus Church, after Polyeuktos (his Greek name), one of the early Christian martyrs.

7. Justinian and Theodora’s Church

This move by Anicia Juliana was a clear challenge to Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. It was known that Anicia hated Theodora as much as Justinian.

Theodora, the daughter of an official working in the Hippodrome, had become famous as a dancer before marrying Justinian. However, immediately after she rose to the palace, she proved that she had a strong character to become empress.

Justinian, who became emperor after the death of his predecessor Justin, declared his wife Theodora as co-ruler with the title of “Augusta”. Thus, they would rule the empire together.

As if that were not enough, they also built a church that rivaled Anicia Juliana’s Church of St. Polyeuctus. And they even chose its name, like Anicia Juliana did, after Christian martyrs.

This new church, dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, two Roman soldiers martyred for their faith near Syria, was called the Church of Sergius and Bacchus.

This church, which was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period, is known as the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque due to its resemblance to Hagia Sophia and has survived to this day.

Architecture of the Church of St Polyeuctus

The 6th century, when St Polyeuctus Church was built, marked a major change in Roman architecture. First, the central domed St Polyeuctus Church of Anicia Juliana was built, followed immediately by the octagonal domed Sergius and Bacchus Church of Justinian.

While all Roman churches built since the time of Emperor Constantine had a basilica plan, these two churches were the harbingers of a major change. Basilicas, which were essentially pagan Roman structures and inspired all early churches, were rectangular structures with three naves.

Basilicas, which were used for meetings and courts in Roman history, were converted into churches during the Constantine period. Basilica-plan churches left their mark on the first 200 years of Christianity. However, it was time for a major change.

The first example of this change, St Polyeuctus Church, had a central dome while preserving the three-nave structure. The dome rising above the central nave was placed on the thick walls separating the main space from the side naves. The structure had two half domes extending between the entrance and the apse, as in the Hagia Sophia, which was built later.

On the other hand, the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, built as a response to the arrogance of the aristocracy, brought a new perspective to church architecture with its octagonal dome inside a square structure.

The Church of St. Polyeuctus, built between 524 and 527, and the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, built between 527 and 536, paved the way for a new era. Thanks to the new dome plans developed by the two churches, Hagia Sophia, the most magnificent structure of the Byzantine Empire, was later built.

The thing that did the most damage to the historical heritage of Constantinople was the Sack of Constantinople in 1204. Crusader armies setting out from Europe plundered the capital Constantinople. During this looting, the columns of the Church of St Polyeuctus were also stolen.

The Church of St Polyeuctus, the most richly decorated church of its time, had structural elements decorated with exquisite figures on every inch. Some of the church’s pieces were stolen and taken to Italy, where they are now in the courtyard of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

I made the image above with ChatGPT’s image-generating AI engine DALL-E. After giving ChatGPT the information I had about the architecture of the Church of St Polyeuctus, this is the result (it seems to work, although it has its flaws).

Anicia Juliana’s Legacy

The Church of St. Polyeuctus was one of the groundbreaking structures in Eastern Roman architecture. Although centuries have passed since its destruction, it is still remembered as one of the most important Byzantine churches in Istanbul.

The fact that two of the most powerful women in Byzantine history, Empress Theodora and Anicia Juliana, lived in the same century led to the emergence of two important historical structures that enriched the history of Istanbul.

The Church of St. Polyeuctus also inspired the architecture of today’s Hagia Irene Church. Hagia Irene was destroyed during an earthquake in the 8th century and rebuilt with a simple architecture during the reign of the Iconoclast emperors.

Located in the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace today, Hagia Irene is the structure that most resembles the famous St. Polyeuctus Church of the past. For this reason, I have attached a recent photo of Hagia Irene above for reference.

Conclusion

The ruins of the St. Polyeuctus Church are currently located in the Fatih district, very close to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. As far as I know, the Istanbul Municipality archaeology team is conducting an excavation at the site of the church ruins.

Thanks to these studies, we may have new information about the history and architecture of the St. Polyeuctus Church in the coming years. Of course, I will be updating this article according to new developments.

If you are interested in the history of Istanbul, you can find many articles on this site’s blog page. For example, if you are interested in Byzantine artifacts in Istanbul, you can also read my related article at this address.

The Church of St. Polyeuctus by Serhat Engul

The post History of Church of St Polyeuctus (Istanbul) appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

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 the name of Imrahor Mosque during the Ottoman period, was destroyed by earthquakes and fires.

In order to explain the history of the Monastery of Stoudios from a broader perspective, I will briefly explain the rise of Christianity in Roman politics. It will be a little long article, but I will have touched on many things about the history of Constantinople.

Polytheism and Emperors in Rome

In ancient Rome, in order to gain political power, it was necessary to win military victories. This was a tradition that began in the Republic period, before the Roman Empire was founded. It would be useful to talk a little about the period of Julius Caesar as an example.

Julius Caesar was one of three consuls that ruled Rome during the First Triumvirate. With his legions, he organized military expeditions to the barbarian tribes in the north. His victories in Gaul and Britain made him invincible.

The soldiers in the Roman legions he ruled for years worshiped him. Fearing that Julius Caesar would bring the end of the Republic, the Roman Senate killed him with an assassination.

Octavius, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, did what the Senate feared. The Roman Empire, the most powerful state of the Antiquity, was established. Octavius became the first emperor of Rome under the name Augustus.

The imperial system has continued successfully for many years. The generals, who were blessed by the legions, seized the administration and caused chaos for some periods. For example, emperors changed frequently during the 50-year period between 235 and 285.

There was a polytheistic pagan belief in the Roman Empire and emperors were declared gods by the senate. The political might of the emperors was supported by a sort of shield of holiness. They didn’t have to get approval from anyone for what they did.

From Paganism to Monotheistic Religion

What triggered the change of this system was the reign of Emperor Constantine. Constantine I, who came to the throne after the Tetrarchy Rule, made major reforms. First of all, he moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople. Then he took strong steps to change the religion of the state.

Constantine abandoned the polytheistic pagan religion, and accelerated the transition to monotheistic religion. By adopting Christianity, he equipped Rome and Constantinople with churches. From this point on, the emperor’s divinity would end and he would have to share his authority with the clergy.

The transition to the new order was not easy in the Roman Empire. The change that began in the reign of Emperor Constantine would be completed in 50 years. By the time of Emperor Theodosius, there were important clergymen in many religious centers of the empire.

The first incident in which clerics overshadowed the authority of the emperors occurred in 393. Emperor Theodosius, who brutally suppressed the uprising in Thessaloniki, killed 7000 people.

The Massacre of Thessalonica, which was against Christian values, was condemned by the clergy. Pious Theodosius, who regretted what he had done, wished forgiveness before Saint Ambrose (Bishop of Milan). This incident was a milestone in Roman history.

An archbishop was appointed to each of the religious centers of the empire, Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria (this system is called Pentharcy). The influence of these clergy in the administration increased day by day.

Thus, the coronation was no longer in the form of legions carrying emperors on their shields. Instead, bishops would bless the emperors in the name of God (representative image can be seen above).

Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I was the first ruler to be crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople. From that incident onwards, the emperors had to share their authority with the clergy. Throughout the Middle Ages, the struggle for power between emperors and clergy never ended.

The Most Important Monastery of Istanbul

The main reason I made such a long introduction was to tell you how Christianity got stronger over time in the Roman Empire. In this process, The Church gained the power to give way to state policies.

One of the most influential religious institutions of the Eastern Roman Empire was the Stoudios Monastery. The abbot of the monastery had the greatest authority after the Patriarch of Constantinople.

If we consider that the most powerful clergymen in the Middle Ages were “The Pope” in Rome and “The Patriarch” in Constantinople, we would understand the political power of the Stoudios Monastery.

Among the 80 monasteries in Constantinople, Stoudios Monastery was ranked first. The church, dedicated to John the Baptist, is also referred to as “Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner” in some sources.

History of Stoudios Monastery

The Stoudios Monastery dates back to the fifth century and is the oldest surviving religious structure from Constantinople, albeit in disrepair.

It was built in 462 by Flavius Studius, the Eastern Roman consul. Studius, a wealthy statesman, built the church on his land. Devoted to St John the Baptist, the church also had his relics.

The Stoudios Monastery was located somewhere between the Forum of Arcadius and the Golden Gate. The Golden Gate, the most important gate opening to the city from the of Theodosian Walls, was the monumental gate used by the emperors.

A monastery was added next to the church built by Flavius Studios. The monastery, where a thousand monks lived, had self-sufficient facilities. Farming was carried out in the monastery garden so that enough food was provided to the monastery.

The monastery, which trained prominent clergymen, became an important political power within the Byzantine Empire over time. The monastery had peaked its power under the leadership of Theodore the Studite. He was the leader of those who opposed Byzantine iconoclasm.

In the Byzantine Empire, the emperors or members of the dynasty who were deposed were forced to live the monk life. Sometimes the emperors who were overthrown by their rivals took refuge in monasteries with their own consent to protect their lives. Stoudios Monastery shielded emperors such as Michael V Kalaphates, Isaac I Komnenos, and Michael VII Doukas.

Like many buildings in Constantinople, the Stoudios Monastery suffered great damage during the Fourth Crusade (aka Sack of Constantinople). The Latins, who plundered the city, stole the relics of John the Baptist, the church’s most important sacred relic.

After this incident, it took 57 years for the Byzantines to recapture Constantinople. When the Byzantines finally took back their capital in 1261, they restored the Studios Monastery in 1290.

Architecture of Stoudios Monastery

Monastery of Stoudios was built in early Christianity. Like all early Roman-Byzantine churches, it was inspired by the Basilica plan. However, it was possible to see the traces of Greco-Roman architecture, as it was built in an era where Ancient Art was still present.

Columns supporting the church, a three-nave basilica, had majestic column capitals in the Corinthian order. These column heads, decorated with very elegant motifs, are still standing despite all earthquakes and fires that damage the structure.

Imrahor Mosque in the Ottoman Period

The monastery was converted into a mosque during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II. The task of turning the monastery into a mosque was given to Imrahor Ilyas Bey.

It was opened to worship after the renovations in 1486. The title “Imrahor”, which means the person responsible for the Sultan’s stables, remained the name of the mosque in the local language.

The fame of the Stoudios Monastery also attracted the attention of the Ottomans. They built a Tekke (Muslim Monastery) next to the mosque and made those who dedicate their lives to worship live here.

The Imrahor Mosque was damaged by earthquakes and fires over time. An earthquake in 1766 weakened the foundations of the building. Due to the fire in 1782, the columns on the right side of the building were destroyed. With the roof collapsing in 1908, it became completely unusable.

The Stoudios Monastery, which has a history of approximately 1600 years, is still known worldwide. The walls surrounding the building are still standing. However, the building is closed to visitors for security reasons.

Conclusion

According to the new news coming in 2022, the restoration of the Imrahor Mosque (former Studios Monastery) has started. It is great news that such an important structure in Istanbul’s history will be rebuilt!

I reorganize the pages on this site several times a year and try to keep it as up-to-date as possible. I will also share with you the new information I have obtained about the restoration work carried out at the Studios Monastery (also known as Imrahor Mosque).

If you are interested in the history of Istanbul, you can find many articles related to these subjects on the blog page of this site. For example, if you are interested in Byzantine structures in Istanbul, you can find the related article from here.

Stoudios Monastery (Imrahor Mosque) by Serhat Engul

The post Stoudios Monastery (now Imrahor Mosque in Istanbul) appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

St Theodosia was an iconophile woman who was killed by Roman soldiers during the Byzantine iconoclasm. When the period of anti-iconism, which lasted about a century, ended, the Eastern Church declared this woman a martyr and saint.

The Byzantines built this church in the 11th century in honor of this female saint who was believed to heal people. The building remained a church for about 500 years, and was converted into a mosque after the Ottomans captured Constantinople.

In this article, I would like to briefly share with you a few important information about Hagia Theodosia Church. If you would like to explore this thousand-year-old unique structure and hear the stories associated with it, you can also join my private Fener and Balat walking tours.

Church of Hagia Theodosia (Gul Mosque)

Hagia Theodosia Church was a Byzantine building with a Greek cross plan, believed to have been built in the 11th century. The building, which has a very high dome, served as a church for nearly 500 years.

With the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the churches in the city were converted into mosques one by one. It is believed that this church was also converted into a mosque in the 1490s. The name of the mosque is interestingly given as Gul Mosque, which means “The Rose Mosque”.

It is believed that the reason why the mosque took this name was that when Ottoman soldiers entered the city, they found the old church decorated with roses. The reason was that the day the city fell on May 29, 1453 coincided with St. Theodosia’s feast day, and that’s why the church was decorated with flowers.

Although the church is very similar to its original form, it has not survived to the present day as it was during the Byzantine period, because it was partially damaged by the earthquakes in Istanbul over time.

The Ottomans repaired the dome of the building and the arches supporting it and added a little of their own style to the architecture. This mixed architecture can be quite interesting to eyes that examine it carefully.

Another interesting detail about this building is that large Stars of David can be seen on some of the main supporting columns and arches in the interior decoration that was renewed during the Ottoman period.

How to Visit Gul Mosque Today?

Gul Mosque (former Hagia Theodosia Church) is located very close to Kadir Has University, the iconic building in Cibali today. You can easily find this spot as the university is on the banks of the Golden Horn and on the main road.

From the university, you can walk along the seashore, parallel to the old Roman walls, and when you come to Serefiye Street, you can see the church by heading southwest on this street. To do this, you need to take the sea (i.e. the Golden Horn) behind you and start walking through this side street.

Since the church is built on a hill, it is impossible to miss. Like every Byzantine structure, its distinguishing feature is that it is made of red bricks, which are easily visible from the outside.

Although the mosque is open for Muslims to pray during worship, it is not open to visitors all day long, like the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque in the tourist spots of the Old City.

If the mosque official is there, when you ask, he will open the door of this castle-like building and allow you a 10-minute visit. However, please do not forget to give him a reasonable tip in return for this kindness.

An interesting detail is that the mosque has a giant wooden door with two wings and this door is opened with a huge old-style key that resembles a castle key. As you can see, this place is truly a hidden treasure for history lovers.

Conclusion

Gul Mosque, or formerly known as Hagia Theodosia Church, is a little-known hidden gem among the Byzantine structures in Istanbul, but it impresses visitors with its mystical atmosphere.

If you visit this area with an expert tour guide, you can discover this structure and many other hidden treasures. Gul Mosque, the nearby St Nicholas Church and the St Mary of the Mongols Church in Fener are places that the average tourist will never see.

As someone who has been organizing private tours in Istanbul for nearly 20 years, I have been doing the Fener and Balat tour since 2008. Many foreign tourists have participated in this private guided walking tour and have written their impressions on this page.

In this walking tour, we leave Istanbul’s classic tourist route and explore places off the beaten path. Cibali, Fener and Balat, some of the most cosmopolitan districts of the Ottoman period, have many unique stories.

Fener was a Greek district and Balat was a Jewish district during the Ottoman period. Traces of cosmopolitan life in these districts can still be clearly seen through mosques, churches and synagogues.

If you would like to discover the hidden treasures offered by these unique districts, you can book my private guided Fener and Balat tour. In order to contact me, please simply fill out the form on the contact page.

Writen by Serhat Engul

The post Hagia Theodosia Church (Gul Mosque) in Istanbul appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

At these shops, you can find international wine selections aside from local wine and also enjoy delicious cousins that go well with wine. In this post, you can find the best wine bars both in the European and Asian side of Istanbul.

Best Wine Shops & Bars in Istanbul 2025

The best wine shops & bars of Istanbul are generally located in Beyoglu, Sisli and Kadikoy districts. Beyoglu district includes Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Galata and Karakoy. Since most of the places on our list are in these neighborhoods, we can say that Beyoglu is the best place to drink wine in Istanbul.

On our list, there are 9 premium wine shops in Istanbul where you can taste and buy wine. Most of them are also wine bars where you can have appetizers and have fun while drinking your wine.

You will notice that the names of most of the wine houses we propose in the article end with “Sarap Evi”. This term means Wine House in Turkish.

I would like to emphasize that the image above is symbolic. Since I do not have the licensed photos of the wine bars below, I could not add their images to the article. However, you can easily access the photos of these places from their official Instagram addresses.

1. Viktor Levi Wine House

Viktor Levi Sarap Evi is located on a side alley on the way to the dock in Kadikoy from Rexx Movie Theater. As the name suggests, it is a place where the owners produce their wine.

The owner of the place, Viktor Levi, was born in Gallipoli as the son of a fisher family. Viktor Levi’s wine-producing story started in Bozcaada and it continues at a garden of a mansion that has a historical atmosphere. Being one of the oldest wine houses in Istanbul, the wine at Viktor Levi is made of various grapes from all around Turkey.

You should also note that in addition to wine, you can find local and import cheese options, liver and other meat choices at Viktor Levi, and enjoy a nice meal while having your wine.

If you like fruit wine, you can also try cherry wine at Viktor Levi. Moreover, warm appetizers and olive oil dishes menus are rich at this place.

Victor Levi has been among the best wine houses in Istanbul in recent years. Since it is on the Asian side, it is a bit far from those who stay in Taksim and Sultanahmet. However, Kadikoy is one of the must-see places in Istanbul, and when you go there, you can taste local wines at Victor Levi.

2. Hazzo Pulo Wine Restaurant

Hazzo Pulo Sarap Evi is located at Asmalimescit in Beyoglu and it boasts an atmosphere that reminds visitors of a wine cellar. The place maintains its original architecture and has been serving its customers in the same place for years.

Hazzo Pulo offers wine made of various grapes from different parts of Turkey and a rich food menu. A rich cheese plate, appetizers, seafood, fried mushroom or Vienne style schnitzel are some of the options you can go for at Hazzo Pulo.

If you enjoy spending time in a historical atmosphere, Hazzo Pulo will be an excellent choice.

3. Pano Wine House

Tarihi Pano Saraphanesi was opened by Panayot Papadopulus to sell wine in 1898 and it carries the memories of Panayot, who was from a Greek family at Samatya.

After Panayot’s death, the wine house was managed by his relatives. Then, it was taken over by Emel Hanim. The wine house was shut down after Emel Hanim’s death in 1987 and it was bought by Fevzi Buyukerol to be restored in 1997.

Pano Sarap Evi is regarded as one of the best wine houses in Beyoglu (Taksim) and it also served as meyhane shortly. Later, it started to serve as a wine house and renamed as Pano Saraphanesi.

Apart from wine, delicious steaks, cheese plates, and shrimp casserole are some of the items in the food menu that are worth trying.

One of the most popular accommodation places in Istanbul is Taksim. Pano is located within walking distance for those staying around Taksim Square. You can also reach Pano, one of the best wine restaurants in Istanbul, by a 10-minute taxi ride from Sultanahmet (Old City).

4. Sensus Wine Shop

Sensus Wine is located under Anemon Hotel at Galata and it offers more than 400 wine options.

Sensus is the first wine boutique dedicated to Turkish wine and cheese. Therefore, you can order cheese and fruit while you enjoy your wine. Sensus Wine aims at serving good quality wine at affordable prices and it’s a must-go place due to its interesting and special décor, and its various wine choices.

The place also organizes wine tasting days and although it looks like a small place from the outside, you will be amazed by an impressive atmosphere when you enter the shop.

Sensus is a wine shop close to Galata Tower, one of the most important touristic spots in Istanbul. If you are staying in Taksim or Sultanahmet, you can choose Sensus Wine to buy wine from Istanbul.

5. Wayana Wine Bar

Wayana Wine Bar is located in Moda, one of the most popular districts of Istanbul in recent years. The name of this boutique wine house comes from the name given to wine by the Hittites, a historical civilization in Anatolia.

Wayana Wine House offers 408 types of wine from 72 Turkish wine producers. If you want to experience local Turkish wines, this wine bar located on the Asian Side of Istanbul is for you.

6. Lal Wine Bar

Lal Sarap Evi is located at Kadife Street, known as the bars street in Kadikoy and the place is decorated in a vintage style. You can enjoy your wine by the fireplace at this place and it’s open until 02:00 in the morning.

7. Hera Wine Bar

Hera Wine Bar serves its customers at a three-story Greek house on Kadife Street at Kadikoy and two different concepts are offered in the same building.

Besides wine, you can find cheese, appetizers, warm starters, and meat options as well. Some of the specialties include snacking plate that includes fresh vegetable hash browns with fried goat cheese, charcuterie plate or crepe.

Red and white barreled wine is consumed frequently at Hera, where you can listen to DJ performances too.

Kadife Street, where Lal and Hera are located, is a place famous for its bars. Kadife Sokak, where you can experience Kadikoy’s nightlife, is also home to the best wine bars in Istanbul.

Written by Serhat Engul

The post Best Wine Shops & Bars in Istanbul (Updated 2025) appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

In this article you can find information about the history and architecture of the Church of the Holy Apostles. We will have to go on a journey through Roman history to tell the story of the church in all its details.

Christianity in the Roman Empire

Christianity spread all over the world by the disciples after the death of Jesus. The apostles went to cities such as Alexandria, Antioch, Ephesus and Rome, which were the most important cities of Antiquity. This rapid rise of Christianity greatly disturbed the Roman bureaucrats. This new faith based on solidarity gave great hope to the poor and slaves. So it spread quickly.

In the Roman Empire, the polytheistic religion was intertwined with the state administration. Emperors were considered to be the representative of Jupiter on earth. This order, which had been maintained for centuries, was under great threat. Therefore, strict measures were taken against the spread of new faith. Death sentences were given to deter people. Despite all this, the organization of Christians could not be prevented.

1. Constantine the Great

Anatolia was one of the main habitats of early Christians. Christians who wanted to hide from Roman authorities preferred geographies suitable for hiding, especially Cappadocia.

The 300-year period of persecution peaked during Emperor Diocletian. But salvation was soon. During the reign of Constantine the Great, who was victorious from the civil war, oppression ended.

Constantine became the only emperor at the end of the Tetrarchy (Four Rulers). He was a strong character who won all the wars he fought. For this reason, he was highly respected by both the army and the Roman Senate. Using this power, he decided to make a series of reforms.

2. The New Capital Constantinople

The first was to free Christianity with Edict of Milan. The second was to leave the old capital Rome and build Constantinople. The ancient capital of Rome was no longer the place of residence of the emperors. Constantinople would be the new capital of the empire.

Constantinople, which was completely rebuilt between 324 and 330, was equipped with many monumental buildings. The main ones were the Great Palace, the Hippodrome, the Forum of Constantine and the Church of the Holy Apostles, dedicated to the 12 apostles of Jesus.

3. Early Churches in the Empire

There were no monumental churches at the time when Christianity was accepted in the Roman Empire. There were cave churches in hidden places such as Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia.

So the Romans began to recruit new churches from an already existing building. These were rectangular structures called “Basilica”. These buildings, which did not have any religious function, had been used as a courthouse or meeting room.

Basilicas not only turned into churches, but also set an example for the early churches in the empire with their architectural plans. All the churches were built with a basilica plan for 200 years until the reign of Emperor Justinian.

4. Justinian’s Architectural Revolution

Determined to build unique structures, Justinian first started by building Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. This imperial structure, together with its contemporary Church of St Polyeuktos, broke new ground in church architecture.

Justinian achieved his ultimate goal by building Hagia Sophia, an unprecedented structure. Of course, these architectural developments took place in the 200 years following the construction of the Church of the Holy Apostles.

The Church of the Holy Apostles in Istanbul

The Church of the Holy Apostles was exactly like the early Christian churches we have described so far. It was a basilica planned building and it was the largest church in Constantinople. Until Hagia Sophia was built, it remained the most important church in Istanbul.

Unfortunately, we do not have a clear picture depicting the Church of the Holy Apostles. For this reason, we have to use the old icons in which the church is depicted without scale.

In the icon above, we see the burial of John Chrysostom, one of Istanbul’s most famous clerics in history. The Church of the Holy Apostles is also depicted in the background.

1. History of The Church of the Holy Apostles

The history of the church of the Holy Apostles dates back to the 330s, when Constantinople was built as the new capital. It was designed to be the city’s first and largest iconic church.

When Constantine died in 337, it was completed by his son Constantius II. He buried his father in this new church. By the way, Constantius II was also building the first version of Hagia Sophia in the same years (the current structure is the third period Hagia Sophia).

The aim of Constantine the Great was to make this new church the center of Christianity. He wanted to bring together the relics of all the apostles in the city of Constantinople, which he gave his name, and be buried with them.

However, according to historical records, only relics of three apostles could be brought to The Church of the Holy Apostles. These were Saint Andrew, Saint Luke and Saint Timothy.

2. Architecture of The Church of the Holy Apostles

The architecture of the Church of the Holy Apostles had a plan modeled on Roman Basilicas. Considered within its period, it was a building befitting the magnificent capital of Constantine the Great.

It was noted that the first generation church had high ceilings and its walls were covered with giant marble slabs. In addition, its roof was covered with bronze plates and was in golden color.

It was a magnificent building with its high walls and shining roof. It was one of the most spectacular structures of the early Roman churches. However, it was not built very solidly.

The new capital, Constantinople, was full of majestic and weak buildings that were hastily built. Moreover, they were located in Istanbul, which was an earthquake zone.

3. The New Church by Justinian

The Church was demolished and rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Representing the peak period of the Byzantine Empire, Justinian had accomplished great works in terms of architecture. For example, the churches of Hagia Sophia and Hagia Irene in Istanbul and the Basilica of St. John in Ephesus were rebuilt with a new architectural approach in his time.

After the 6th century, the largest church of Constantinople became Hagia Sophia. Although the Church of the Holy Apostles was smaller than Hagia Sophia in size, it had great spiritual importance. Because the monumental tomb of Constantine, the founder of the capital Constantinople, was in the Church of the Holy Apostles. The tradition started by Constantine continued for centuries and all his successors were buried next to him.

However, during the Sack of Constantinople in 1204, the Church of the Holy Apostles was badly damaged. The Crusaders, who invaded Constantinople, ransacked the whole city. All treasures were stolen from the city’s most important churches and palaces.

A Latin Kingdom was established in the heart of Byzantium, which would last between 1204 and 1261. When the city was taken back, little remained from Constantinople, the most magnificent city of its time.

The Byzantines undertook a major repair work after taking the city back. However, it was not possible to completely repair some structures. After this date, we see that the two buildings could not return to their glorious days. One of them was the Great Palace, and the other was the Church of the Holy Apostles.

The most important church of the city, Hagia Sophia, was partially repaired. Emperors started to live in the Palace of Blachernae, near the Theodosius Walls instead of the Great Palace.

Many small monastery churches were built during the decline of the Byzantine Empire. Of course, these were not monumental structures such as Hagia Sophia or Church of the Holy Apostles. Monastery of the Pantocrator and Pammakaristos Church were such structures. Dynasty members were then buried in small chapels in these monasteries.

4. The Church in the Ottoman Period

After the conquest in 1453, Hagia Sophia, the biggest church of the city, was turned into a mosque. Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wanted to preserve the Orthodox Patriarchate, the religious center of Christians in the East. For this purpose, he offered them to continue their activities in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

The Patriarchate of Constantinople remained in the Church of the Holy Apostles for a while. However, the presence of the church started to create security problems due to the fact that Muslim families started to live in the center of the city.

In order to understand this issue better, the lifestyle of that period should also be examined. Members of every religion in the city preferred to live in their own neighborhoods. There were certain districts where Muslims, Christians and Jews gathered.

The Church was now in the middle of the Muslim neighborhood. Moreover, it was about to collapse because it had not been repaired for centuries. The Sultan, who intended to build his own mosque, chose that area to build the Fatih Mosque.

The Church of the Holy Apostles, located in the heart of the Historical Peninsula, was destroyed and a mosque dedicated to Mehmet the Conqueror was built. When the Sultan died, he was buried in his tomb here.

Sultan Mehmed‘s choice of this place for his new mosque might had a symbolic meaning. He removed the tomb of Emperor Constantine, the former founder of the city, and built a mosque and a monumental tomb representing the new order.

With the demolition of the Church of the Holy Apostles, the patriarchate was also displaced and moved to the Pammakaristos Church. However, after 150 years, this place was converted to Fethiye Mosque, and the Patriarchate moved to its current place, Church of St. George (aka Fener Orthodox Patriarchate).

With the patriarchate moving to the Fener district, Ottoman citizens of Greek origin settled in this neighborhood and lived here for centuries.

Written by Serhat Engul

The post The Church of the Holy Apostles (Istanbul) 2025 appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

In this article, you can find the most popular nightclubs, bars and jazz clubs in Istanbul. I listed the places in the article according to their proximity to historical and touristic centers (such as Sultanahmet and Taksim).

Although most of Istanbul’s historical monuments are in the Old City (Sultanahmet and its surroundings), nightlife is almost non-existent in this area. For this reason, those staying in the Old City can go near Galata Tower and Taksim Square to have fun at night.

Beyoglu (Taksim) and Sisli (Nisantasi) districts, close to Istanbul’s business centers and modern five-star hotels, are great for nightlife. You can find the clubs in these areas in the first headings of the article.

On the other hand, Besiktas district is the right address for high-end nightlife on the Bosphorus shore, and places like Sortie, Oligark and Ruby at the end of the article represent these stylish and expensive places.

In addition to all these, if you want to have fun with the young people of Istanbul at a cheap price, you can go to Kadikoy (the Asian Side of Istanbul) mentioned in the last heading. There are great bars here, including Dorock XL (and many more on Kadife Street).

8 Best Nightclubs in Istanbul 2025

The best nightclubs in Istanbul 2025 consists of 8 titles. I update this list several times a year. Although Istanbul’s nightlife declined during the pandemic years, it has recovered since 2023.

Galataport, Istanbul’s new cruise terminal, has brought great dynamism to the city. For this reason, the most popular restaurants and clubs of recent years are located in the Beyoglu, Sisli and Besiktas districts close to here.

I would like to emphasize that the image above is symbolic. Since I do not have the licensed photos of the nightclubs below, I could not add their images to the article. However, you can easily access the photos of these Istanbul clubs from their official Instagram addresses.

1. Babylon

Babylon gained great popularity in a short time after it was opened near the Galata Tower in 1999. The restoration of the brewery in Bomonti (Sisli) for cultural activities created an opportunity for Babylon to grow.

Babylon moved to the new venue in the culture and arts complex named “Bomontiada” in 2015. This gave Babylon the opportunity to organize concerts and events on a larger scale.

As the representative of progressive music in Istanbul, Babylon organizes colorful events with many local and foreign singers, DJs and music bands. For this reason, Babylon is an energetic place that manages to attract the attention of the new generation.

Located in Sisli, surrounded by the city’s major business centers, five-star hotels and shopping malls, Babylon is among the best nightclubs in Istanbul in 2025. You can check Babylon’s Instagram page here and access all the information and images about it.

2. Klein Garten

Klein Garten is a nightclub established in Beyoglu, one of the most popular districts of Istanbul, with the dream of a “sky garden” and is among the rising stars of Istanbul’s nightlife in recent years.

Klein Garten is a place that offers entertainment with a view of the Golden Horn, with a capacity of approximately 1000 people. The venue, where you can have fun listening to house music, also has a menu that offers quality food.

Klein Garten, which is within walking distance of popular tourist centers of Istanbul such as Karakoy, Galata and Taksim, stands out among the best nightclubs of 2025. You can check Klein Garten’s Instagram page here and access all the information and images about it.

It should also be noted that Klein Garten serves food with a restaurant concept between 18:00 and 20:00, and serves as a nightclub from 20:00 to 01:00. Klein is open every day of the week except Monday.

3. Nardis Jazz Club

Nardis Jazz Club is a place where live jazz-centered music is played, in which the motto is “Music should be listened at a club”. Nardis offers a concert like atmosphere while visitors can still enjoy the comfort of a club and listen to some great music by skilled musicians.

The surround system and the acoustics of the space are arranged in a way to make the music sound the clearest and purest way possible. Nardis, which has a capacity of 120 people, also serves delicious snacks to its guests.

Lastly, a singer from abroad performs at least once a month in a local rhythm section and if you don’t want to miss such a concert, you are advised to make an early reservation.

Nardis is one of the best jazz clubs in Istanbul in 2025, with its proximity to Galata Tower, one of Istanbul’s major tourist attractions. You can check Nardis Jazz Club’s Instagram page here and access all the information and images about it.

4. 360 Istanbul

360 Istanbul offers its services in a place with a Bosphorus view, on the top floor of the historical Misir Apartment in the heart of Beyoglu, one of the most central places in Istanbul.

360 is also considered as one of the best restaurants in Istanbul. In fact, it has become one of the restaurants recommended by Michelin in Istanbul in 2022. The restaurant serves dinner between 20:00 and 22:00, but after 22:00 the place turns into a nightclub.

360 is a place located right in the middle of Istiklal Street, which stretches between Taksim Square and Galata Tower, and is one of the best nightclubs of 2025 in Istanbul with its unique location and service quality.

You can check 360 Istanbul’s Instagram page here and access all the information and images about it. Due to the popularity of the venue, it is recommended that you make a reservation before going.

5. Sortie Nightclub

Sortie Nightclub, with its 7 restaurants and 3 bars, is an entertainment complex located on the Bosphorus shore and stands out as the most established venue in Istanbul’s nightlife.

Since its establishment in 2012, Sortie has existed as one of the most luxurious nightclubs in Istanbul and in the past was always in competition with Reina (now closed) as the best in Istanbul.

Sortie now has new generation rivals such as Ruby and Oligark, and it is still the most famous nightclub in Istanbul. You can access Sortie’s webpage here and get the latest information about its location and events.

Finally, Sortie is the best nightclub in Istanbul in 2025 (as in previous years), as a place that closely follows popular music developments in the world and hosts the most popular DJs and music performers.

6. Ruby

Ruby is located in Ortakoy, one of the most beautiful districts on the Bosphorus coast of Istanbul. As one of the most stylish venues in Istanbul’s nightlife, Ruby is among the restaurants recommended by Michelin in Istanbul in 2025.

Ortakoy is one of the most beautiful districts of Istanbul and a place that I constantly recommend among the things to do in Istanbul. The district also hosts excellent hotels such as Ciragan Palace Kempinski and Four Seasons Bosphorus.

You can spend a day walking from Bebek to Ortakoy and take excellent photos along the Bosphorus. You can crown this beautiful day by having fun at Ruby, a wonderful restaurant and nightclub.

Ruby draws attention as a bar and nightclub whose name has risen rapidly in Istanbul’s nightlife in recent years. You can access Ruby’s Instagram page here and learn about its latest activities.

7. Oligark

Oligark is a nightclub with a magnificent Bosphorus view, located in the Kurucesme district between Ortakoy and Bebek, where the most luxurious hotels, restaurants and nightclubs of Istanbul are located.

On Oligark’s Instagram page, you can see how beautiful the place where food and drinks are served and how fascinating the view is. For this reason, Oligark is among the high-end clubs of Istanbul.

Kurucesme district has been the center of nightlife in Istanbul for several decades. In the 2000s, the two most famous clubs here were Sortie and Reina, but now Reina has been replaced by Oligark in the competition.

In conclusion, Oligark is an ideal entertainment destination for those staying in the Besiktas, Ortakoy, Bebek and Sariyer districts of the Bosphorus coast. Here you can have a nice dinner and have fun with various DJ concerts and shows until late hours.

8. Dorock XL

Dorock XL is a great place for those who want to meet Turkish pop, rock and alternative music. Located in Kadikoy, the most popular district on the Asian side of Istanbul for tourists, Dorock XL hosts different local music bands on its stage almost every day.

I actually added this nightclub to the list symbolically. There are many clubs, pubs and rock bars in Kadikoy, where Istanbul’s nightlife has developed most rapidly, and among them, Dorock XL is the most centrally located and has the largest space.

But of course, the nightlife in Kadikoy, which is preferred especially by young adults to have fun in Istanbul, is not limited to this. Especially as you approach the “Moda” area of Kadikoy, you can find many new generation entertainment venues.

The best bars in Kadikoy are mostly located on Kadife Street. Clubs, pubs and wine bars such as Buddha, Karga, Teachers Pub, Arka Oda and Lal Cafe Bar can be found on this street. Everyone can find an entertainment venue that appeals to them here.

If you want to listen to a Turkish singer during your stay in Istanbul, you can buy a ticket for one of the concerts at Dorock XL. You can access Dorock XL’s Instagram page here and check the latest events.

Conclusion

There is a very lively nightlife in the touristic areas of Istanbul other than the Old City. In this list, I have introduced places such as Galata, Taksim, Sisli, Besiktas (Ortakoy and Kurucesme) and Kadikoy (Asian Side), where the best nightclubs of Istanbul are located.

I did not give enough information about the exact locations of the jazz bars and nightclubs in the article, but you can easily find them from the links I shared. Instead, I tried to introduce you to the neighborhoods where these places are located.

You can review the first four headings to find the best nightclubs in Taksim, and the second half of the article to find the best clubs on the Bosphorus shores. On the other hand, the best clubs in Kadikoy (on the Asian Side) are at the end.

Of course, there are many small bars and pubs in Istanbul other than the clubs we introduce here. You can find these relatively cheaper places in the side streets branching from Istiklal Street and in the “Moda” area of Kadikoy.

Best Nightclubs in Istanbul for 2025 by Serhat Engul

The post 8 Best NIGHTCLUBS in Istanbul (Updated 2025) appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

In the 19th century, tobacco was one of the main export products of the Ottoman Empire. For this reason, tobacco factories were built on the most beautiful shores of the city, such as the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, due to easy ship transportation.

One of these iconic tobacco factories, located in Uskudar (Asian Side), hosts state theaters today. The factory in Cibali was acquired by Has Foundation in 1997 and was converted into a private university with a major restoration.

Cibali Tobacco Factory

Cibali Tobacco Factory was built in the 1800s. The building, which was first opened as a private initiative, was later transferred to the imperial treasury with the monopoly of tobacco.

With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after the First World War and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the factory was nationalized. Many local cigarette brands of the young republic were produced here.

By the end of the 1900s, the factory, which was very old and remained in the modern city, stopped operating. In the 1990s it was rented by Has Foundation, which belonged to one of the city’s leading families.

Kadir Has University

After a successful restoration process carried out by the Has Foundation, the tobacco factory was converted into a private university and named Kadir Has University in honor of the father of the family.

The restoration of the building preserved the exterior of the building in its original form, while transforming the interior with modern architecture. For this successful restoration, the foundation received the Europa Nostra award given by the European Union.

Today, some old machines from the tobacco factory are exhibited inside Kadir Has University. This hall, which is open to tourists, also forms the entrance of a private museum called Rezan Has Museum.

Archaeological artifacts from some ancient civilizations in Anatolia (aka Asia Minor) are exhibited at the Rezan Has Museum. In addition, there are ruins of an old Byzantine cistern under the building. This cistern was also recently restored and opened to visitors.

After visiting the Rezan Has Museum, you can also see the “Cibali Gate” very nearby. This old gate gave entrance to Constantinople from the old Roman walls of the city during the Byzantine period. The Roman walls here still preserve their old appearance.

If you are a history enthusiast, you can also visit the Hagia Theodosia Church, an old Byzantine structure located a few streets away, while you are here. This 1000-year-old building was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans in the 15th century and renamed as Gul (Rose) Mosque.

Conclusion

Kadir Has University is an iconic structure of the Cibali district and is located in a position overlooking the Golden Horn. This building is also the first stop of my Fener Balat walking tours.

In this walking tour, we leave Istanbul’s classic tourist route and explore places off the beaten path. Cibali, Fener and Balat, some of the most cosmopolitan districts of the Ottoman period, have many unique stories.

Fener was a Greek district and Balat was a Jewish district during the Ottoman period. Traces of cosmopolitan life in these districts can still be clearly seen through mosques, churches and synagogues.

If you would like to discover the hidden treasures offered by these unique districts, you can book my private guided Fener and Balat tour. In order to contact me, please simply fill out the form on the contact page.

Writen by Serhat Engul

The post Kadir Has University (former Cibali Tobacco Factory) appeared first on Istanbul Clues.

Eminonu has been one of the busiest port districts of the city for centuries. For this reason, some of Istanbul’s most famous local restaurants and dessert shops are located here.

Eminonu is also one of the districts where locals shop the most. Since the New Mosque is located in the middle of Eminonu, tens of thousands of people pass through the streets around it every day.

NEW MOSQUE (Yeni Cami) in Istanbul

The construction of the New Mosque (locally known as Yeni Cami) actually started in the 1590s during the reign of Safiye Sultan, one of the most famous Valide Sultans (the Sultan’s mother) of the Ottoman palace.

However, when Safiye Sultan died unexpectedly, the construction of the mosque also stopped. The foundation of the mosque, which remained as it was for half a century, was severely damaged by a fire in the area.

Later, Hatice Turhan Sultan, mother of Mehmed IV, who ruled the Ottoman Empire in the 1660s, decided to complete the mosque. Thus, the structure called New Mosque (Yeni Cami) today was erected.

During the Ottoman period, mosques were designed not only as places of worship, but also as a public center. For this reason, there were many structures around the mosques that would contribute to the daily life of the people living in the surrounding area.

For this purpose, the L-shaped bazaar built next to the mosque stands out as one of the most touristic historical market places in Istanbul today. Known as Egyptian Bazaar by locals and Spice Bazaar among foreigners, this market is next to the mosque.

If you want to spend some more time exploring the surroundings of the mosque, you can also visit the tomb of Valide Turhan Sultan, who we refer to as the founder of the mosque in the upper lines. Next to the Ottoman mosques, there was always the tomb of the person who built it.

New Mosque Opening Hours 2025

New Mosque opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening as of 2025. During this time frame, you can visit the building outside of prayer hours. Information on visiting hours was last updated on April 17, 2025.

There are big differences in prayer times in Istanbul between summer and winter seasons, so I recommend that you review the current prayer times before visiting the mosque.

You can find prayer times for mosques on the official page of Religious Affairs. Mosques usually close half an hour before the prayer time and open half an hour after the call to prayer.

For example, if the specified time for the noon prayer (Dhuhr) is 13:00, you can predict that the mosque will be closed between 12:30 and 13:30. I share these hours as an example to give you an idea. Of course, it may change according to the rules of the mosques.

Things to Do around The Mosque

Things to do around New Mosque include visiting the local bazaars, having lunch at traditional restaurants, and exploring the back streets of Eminonu like a local.

1. Spice Bazaar

Spice Bazaar is located very close to New Mosque. Spice Bazaar was the place where spices from Asia were collected through trade routes during the Ottoman period.

Spices would go to Egypt with caravans from India and from there to Istanbul by ship. For this reason, the bazaar is also known as the “Egyptian Bazaar” in the local language.

Spice Bazaar is one of the most popular shopping places in Istanbul today and a place that everyone visits. Here you can buy Turkish delight, saffron, local nuts, tea leaves and of course spices.

2. Hamdi Restaurant

Hamdi Restaurant is a great stopping place for those who come around Eminonu area. If you want to take a lunch break when you get tired of visiting the mosques and bazaars in Eminonu, you can try this place.

Hamdi Restaurant is among the traditional restaurants that I prefer as a local. You can find many varieties of Turkish kebab here, and you can also try the baklava made by the restaurant.

3. Rustem Pasha Mosque

Rustem Pasha Mosque is one of the relatively little-known but most beautiful mosques in Istanbul. The mosque, which houses the most distinguished Iznik tiles from the Ottoman period, was chosen as one of the “100 hidden gems of the world” by Newsweek magazine.

Rustem Pasha Mosque was built by Mimar Sinan, the most prolific architect of the Ottoman Empire. As a person who lived during the peak period of the empire, Mimar Sinan also built the largest mosque in the city, the Suleymaniye Mosque.

4. Grand Post Office

The Grand Post Office is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in Eminonu. Built in the 19th century, this Ottoman work refers to the roots of the Turks from Central Asia.

In the 19th century, Ottoman architecture was rapidly westernizing. Two architects named Vedat Tek and Mimar Kemalettin wanted to reverse this trend by blending Seljuk and Ottoman architecture.

Another example of this architectural style, called the First National Architectural Movement, is the building of the Legacy Ottoman Hotel (located in parallel street). Under this building is also Brew Coffee Works, one of the best coffee shops in Istanbul.

5. Galata Bridge

Galata Bridge connects Eminonu, the seaside transportation hub of the Old City, with Karakoy. After visiting New Mosque and Spice Bazaar, you can cross the bridge to reach Beyoglu district.

Beyoglu’s seaside transportation hub is Karakoy. By going up from Karakoy, you can reach Galata Tower, which is a museum, Istiklal Avenue, which is a lively walking street, and finally Taksim Square.

Conclusion

The New Mosque is one of the must-see places in Istanbul. If you go around Spice Bazaar, I recommend you to visit at least the courtyard of this mosque.

When you want to get away from the crowds while visiting one of the busiest districts of the city such as Eminonu, the courtyard of this mosque will take you to a spiritual atmosphere.

You will be surprised that you can get away from the thousands of people walking around Spice Bazaar with a few steps and reach such an old and fascinating place with its architecture.

Written by Serhat Engul

The post NEW MOSQUE (Yeni Cami) Istanbul [Updated → 2025] appeared first on Istanbul Clues.