Location Region
The building took its present form after major construction and restoration works in different periods.
The borders of Fatih district of Istanbul, named after the Ottoman ruler Fatih Sultan Mehmet, are determined by the historical city walls, the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea. Regular settlement in the district started to be established around Fatih Mosque, which was built by the order of Sultan Mehmed II Khan after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453.
The district is located in the Historical Peninsula, which we call Suriçi, neighbouring Eyüp in the north, Marmara in the south, Zeytinburnu in the west, Golden Horn in the northeast and Bayrampaşa in the northwest.
The famous seven hills of Istanbul remain within the borders of Fatih.
The hill where Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia mosque and Blue Mosque are located.
The hill where Çemberlitaş and Nuriosmaniye Mosque are located.
The hill where Beyazıt Mosque, University and Süleymaniye are located.
The hill where Fatih Mosque is located.
The hill where Yavuz Selim Mosque is located.
The hill where Mihrimah Sultan Mosque is located.
The hill where the Kocamustafapasa neighbourhood is located.
The history of Fatih district, dating back to 8500 years ago, has been confirmed by the latest findings found during the Marmaray Project works in Yenikapı.
Jacques Pervititch - 1929
Edirnekapi WallsSultan Selim MosqueGreek Orthodox Patriarchate of IstanbulAhrida (Ohrida) SynagogueFatih MosqueAetius CisternIvaz Efendi MosqueTekfur Palace
Edirnekapi Walls
City walls built during the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) period. Its construction started in the 5th century and it has been overhauled four times with demolitions and reconstructions.
The length of the city walls is 22 km. The Golden Horn walls are 5,5 km, the land walls are 7,5 km and the Marmara walls are 9 km. The land walls consist of three sections: moat, outer wall, inner wall.
The sea walls are architecturally similar to the Land Walls, but they were built in a simpler structure. These walls surrounded the city from the Marmara Sea and Golden Horn sides. Edirnekapı, which constitutes one of the city wall gates of Istanbul, is within the borders of Eyüpsultan and Fatih Districts. Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, built by Mimar Sinan at the request of Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent, is located here.
Sultan Selim Mosque
It was completed by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent on behalf of his father Yavuz Sultan Selim in 1522. It is one of the 7 selatin mosques on the 7 hills of Istanbul.
All the units inside the mosque are equipped with carving and marquetry, tiling and illumination, calligraphy and embroidery works of art. The art of carving on the windows and doors is perfect. The courtyard is entered through three doors: Tomb gate, Bazaar gate, Kırkmerdiven gate. There are very valuable tiles on the outer face of the courtyard and the inner face of the last congregation place.
The octagonal tomb on the far right of the three domed tombs next to the mosque is Yavuz Selim's. It has two rows of windows, 4 coloured columns and 5 arches. As soon as you enter this portico door, colourful tiles catch the eye. The doors are inlaid with mother-of-pearl and abonoz. The verse 'every soul will taste death' is written on the upper side of the mausoleum.
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul
It is one of the 14 autocephalous churches that make up the Eastern Orthodox Church, which represents Orthodox Christianity. The Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, also known as the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, bears the title of "Primus inter pares" (first among equals) among Eastern Orthodox bishops.
After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the legal status of the Patriarchate was perpetuated by an edict issued by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.
In addition to its aesthetic exterior architecture, the interior of the Patriarchate, which includes the Patriarch's office, the Aya Yorgi Church, the library and other official departments, draws attention with its eye-catching workmanship. Especially the wood carving of the icon of the church is quite impressive. In the right corner of the church, the pillar seen through the opening in the iron cladding is accepted as the pillar where Jesus was tied and scourged before being crucified. In the same section are the coffins of three saints, St Eufemia, Theophano and Solomoniye.
Ahrida (Ohrida) Synagogue
Ahrida Synagogue, the largest capacity synagogue in Istanbul, is located in the Balat neighbourhood of Fatih district of Istanbul. It is accepted that the synagogue, which takes its name from the town of Ohrid in Macedonia, was founded by Jews who immigrated to Istanbul from the city of Ohrid in Macedonia.
Founded in 1402, the building, which was destroyed by earthquakes and fires, has undergone repairs at various times until today. In 1987, the building was taken under protection by the Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection Board, and its current state is the result of the restoration carried out by the 500th Year Foundation in 1992.
The wooden dome of the synagogue, built of brick and masonry stone, is on 4 columns, and its teva resembles the bow of a ship. There is a midrash (small place of worship) in the courtyard. The locking system on the ground floor windows and the stained glass windows on the upper floor are Ottoman style.
Places of worship affiliated to the Balat Ahrida Jewish Synagogue Foundation: Ahrida Synagogue, Yanbol Synagogue, Chana Synagogue, Istipol Synagogue, Selaniko Synagogue, Kasturian Synagogue.
Fatih Mosque
It is a mosque in Ottoman architectural style, built by Atik Sinan and Mehmed Tahir Aga by the Ottoman ruler Fatih Sultan Mehmet. A unique arrangement in terms of urbanism was designed here at the time of Fatih Sultan Mehmed. All the buildings were placed according to a complete symmetry and the complex with the mosque in the middle formed the most important religious and cultural centre of Istanbul.
"Among the mosques of the country, this mosque is like a head compared to the body." Mehmed the Conqueror.
The plan of the mosque points to a stage in the natural development of Turkish architecture. After the 1766 Istanbul earthquake, the present Fatih Mosque, built by Mustafa III, was constructed in a completely different order. From the 12-domed granite and marble Fatih mosque and complex, three walls of the fountain courtyard, the fountain, the taj gate, the mihrab, the minarets up to the first balcony and a part of the perimeter wall have survived to the present day.
The tombs of many important names of Ottoman history, especially the tomb of Fatih Sultan Mehmed, are here.
Aetius Cistern
The Aetius Cistern, which was not used during the Ottoman period, is one of the three open-air cisterns of the Roman (Byzantine) period. Aetius, who was a governor during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II (408-450), built this cistern in 421. Aetius Cistern, a monumental structure with a rectangular plan, measures 244x84 metres. Its depth is approximately 13-15 metres and wall thickness is 5-20 metres.
İvaz Efendi Camii
The mosque was built in 1585 by Manav Ivazaga, one of the kazasker of Suleiman the Magnificent, with mixed materials of cut stone and brick, and the plaque on the entrance door of the mosque says that it is Mimar Sinan mosque. İvaz Efendi Mosque is a very different building, which is not similar to other contemporary Turkish works in terms of architecture. Built on a terrace on the site of the ruins of the Blakhernai (Vlaherne) Palace complex, the western side of the courtyard of the mosque is bounded by the city walls and the Anemas Tower is located here.
The mosque, also known as Eğrikapı Mosque among the people, has a square fountain next to it, large pits and tunnels in its garden, and two gates on the right and left sides of its front façade. Its minaret is at the corner of the qibla wall.
Only the mosque and the fountain remain from the mosque, which was a complex in its time. İvaz Efendi was buried in the garden. Until 1998, there was the Sakal-i Sharif of the Prophet Muhammad in the mosque. However, it disappeared in an unknown way.
Tekfur Palace
There is no clarity about the construction date of Tekfur Palace, which was not used during the Ottoman period. It is known to have been built as a part of the Blaherne palace complex and is one of the examples of Young D. Roman (Byzantine) architecture.
Tekfur Palace is among the palaces used by the emperors, especially in the last periods of D. Roman (Byzantine). It is rumoured that the Spoonbearer's Diamond exhibited in Topkapı Palace was found in Tekfur Palace.
The building, which is now open to visitors as a museum, has kazamats on the south wall and a small chapel in the middle of the facade. It is estimated that the chapel, which was built in a way that one person can worship, belonged to the ruler and the ruler's family who used this part of the palace. On the short-sided facade of the palace, there is a large and wide balcony overlooking the city. The other facade of the building is united with a tower on the city wall.
For those coming from the Asian side;
Take the Eminönü ferry from Kadıköy. You can reach Kariye Mosque by taking one of the buses numbered 31E, 32, 336E, 36KE, 37E from Eminönü bus stops and get off at Edirnekapı stop.
Take the Eminönü ferry from Üsküdar. You can reach Kariye Mosque by taking one of the buses numbered 31E, 32, 336E, 36KE, 37E from Eminönü bus stops and get off at Edirnekapı stop.
Take the Üsküdar-Çekmeköy metro from Ümraniye, get off at Altunizade stop and transfer to Metrobus. You can reach Kariye Mosque with a 5-minute walk by getting off at Edirnekapı stop by Metrobus and exiting the overpass on the right side.
If you are coming from Kartal, Maltepe, Pendik, Tuzla, you can reach Kariye Mosque with a 5-minute walk by getting off at Edirnekapı Tram stop by taking 500T.
For those coming from the European side;
If you are coming from Beylikdüzü, Büyükçekmece, Avcılar, Küçükçekmece, Bahçelievler, you can reach Kariye Mosque with a 5-minute walk by getting off at Edirnekapı stop from any Metrobus station and exiting from the right side of the overpass.
If you are coming from Esenler, Bayrampaşa, take the Airport-Yenikapı metro, get off at Merter and transfer to Metrobus. You can reach Kariye Mosque with a 5-minute walk by getting off at Edirnekapı stop with Metrobus and exiting from the right side of the overpass.
If you are coming from Bağcılar, Güngören, get off at Zeytinburnu on the Kabataş-Bağcılar tram line and transfer to Metrobus. You can reach Kariye Mosque with a 5-minute walk by getting off at Edirnekapı stop with Metrobus and exiting from the right side of the overpass.
You can reach Kariye Mosque by taking bus number 87 from Taksim and getting off at Edirnekapı stop.