Faith / Mosque
Kariye Mosque (Chora)
Fatih, İstanbul
The church of the former Chora Monastery, home to the world's finest examples of 14th-century Byzantine mosaics and frescoes; a mosque since 2024.
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Its story
The church of the Chora Monastery, near the city walls, largely acquired its present appearance through the repairs and decoration commissioned by the statesman Theodore Metochites in the early 14th century. The mosaics in the narthex and outer narthex depicting the lives of Christ and Mary, and the Anastasis fresco in the side chapel, are considered the high point of Late Byzantine art. The building was converted into a mosque in the early 16th century and opened to visitors as a museum in 1945. After a lengthy restoration, it reopened as a mosque in May 2024; the mosaics remain open to visitors.
Key facts
- Period
- Byzantine (11th–14th century), Ottoman additions
- Admission
- Free for Turkish citizens and those coming to worship; foreign tourists need a ticket (20 euros in 2024). Open for worship only on Fridays
- Getting there
- T5 Cibali–Alibeyköy tram toward Ayvansaray, or walk from Edirnekapı
- Visit duration
- 45 minutes–1 hour
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Rainy day
Location
41.03111, 28.93917
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kariye_Camii | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chora | https://www.dha.com.tr/gundem/kariye-camiinde-yabanci-turistlere-ucretli-ziyaret-donemi-basladi-video-2492290