Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, with a population of almost 14 million people. The overused phrase "East meets West" really applies in Istanbul, where the continents of Europe and Asia come together and miniskirts coexist with head scarves.
Istanbul has a myriad of attractions for visitors, particularly those interested in history and religion. Previously known as Byzantium and then Constantinople, the ancient city is a layering of civilization on civilization, empire on empire. As a major religious center for both the Greek Orthodox Church and the Islamic faith, Istanbul is the custodian of one of the world's most important cultural heritages and home to some of the world's most opulent displays of art and wealth, most of which were built in the name of faith.
Travel Resources for Istanbul
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See our Istanbul Map for a closer view. |
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Featured Religious Attractions in Istanbul
 Located near Istanbul University, this is one of the oldest mosques in the city. It was built in 1506 using materials from Theodosius' forum, over which it was constructed.  The cascading domes and six slender minarets of the Blue Mosque dominate the skyline of Istanbul. The 17th-century mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I to rival the Hagia Sophia.  This great church was built by Constantine as the resting place of Byzantine emperors, several apostles, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian. Destroyed in the Crusades, its materials were used to build the Fatih Mosque.  This is the holiest site in Istanbul and one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world. Erected by Mehmet the Conqueror, it honors the tomb of Eyüp Sultan, the standard-bearer for the Prophet.  Originally built in 1470, this mosque was entirely rebuilt in 1766 after an earthquake. It shelters the tomb of Fatih Mehmet the Conqueror.  The Theotokos Church was built in 1292 and served as the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate from 1456 to 1528. Five years later, it was converted into a mosque.  The "Basilica of Holy Peace" dates from the 6th century and was transformed into the arsenal of the Topkapi Palace in the 1460s. Today, its excellent acoustics make it a popular venue for concerts.  This world-famous structure is a Byzantine church built by Justinian. It was later converted to a mosque and is now a museum.  This huge museum has a world-class collection of Greek and Roman artifacts, including finds from Istanbul, Ephesus and Troy.  This 11th-century church (later a mosque and now a museum) contains one of the finest preserved galleries of Byzantine mosaics anywhere.  A museum centered around the mosaic floor of Constantine's Great Palace discovered in 1933, which features images of hunting and the Four Seasons.  A rather humble exterior in Istanbul shelters the worldwide headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George (Aya Yorgi).  Commissioned by Justinian in the first year of his reign (527), this was an important stage in the development of Byzantine architecture. It is now a mosque known as the "Little Hagia Sophia."  Commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, this beautiful mosque patterned after the Hagia Sophia was finished in 1557.  The "New Mosque" is not so new - it was built in the 1600s. Designed by Da'ud Aga, a pupil of Sinan, Yeni Camii has become a defining feature of Istanbul's skyline.  The Church of the Pantocrator, now a mosque named Zeyrek Camii, is one of the most important landmarks of the Byzantine period. Today it is in a state of neglect. |
