Byzantine Walls and Churches

The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque sits at the highest point of the city on the Sixth Hill, overlooking the old Theodosian land walls of Istanbul. You can identify it by its dramatic, towering dome and the single, slender minaret that rises beside…

Edirnekapı is defined by the massive stone fortifications of the Theodosian Walls, which stretch across the landscape with two thick defensive towers guarding the ancient threshold. This gate, historically known as the Gate of Charisius,…

The Kariye Mosque is a low, cluster-domed brick structure in the Fatih district that holds one of the world's most significant collections of late Byzantine art. Originally established in the early fourth century as a monastery church…

The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus is a three-story stone and brick structure that sits directly against the ancient Theodosian Walls. You can identify it by the elaborate, colorful geometric patterns of red brick and white marble that…

Eğrikapı, or the Crooked Gate, sits within the ancient Theodosian Walls in the Ayvansaray district. You can identify this passage by the way the road leading through it forces traffic into a sharp, asymmetrical slalom, a layout that earned…

The Kazasker İvaz Efendi Mosque sits in Ayvansaray, positioned directly above the Byzantine-era substructures of the Blachernai Palace. You can identify the site by its location against the ancient city walls and the large pits and tunnels…

The Vlaherna Meryem Ana Church sits behind high walls and a garden in the Ayvansaray neighborhood. It is built upon the site of a sacred water spring, or ayazma, that has drawn pilgrims to this spot since the fifth century. Empress Aelia…