Chora Church
Kariye Camii
Duration
45 min
Admission
€20
Best time
Morning
Budget
Budget
About this place
The Chora Church, known in Turkish as Kariye Camii, is one of the most extraordinary surviving examples of Byzantine art and architecture in the world, tucked away in the historic Edirnekapı neighbourhood near the ancient city walls. Originally built in the 4th century and magnificently decorated in the 14th century, its breathtaking mosaics and frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary are considered masterpieces of medieval art.
Tips
Check opening hours and access carefully before visiting, as the Chora Church has undergone periods of restricted access in recent years following its reconversion into a mosque in 2020. Modest dress is required — shoulders and knees must be covered, and women should bring a headscarf. The mosaics and frescoes are extraordinarily detailed and reward slow and careful contemplation, so allow plenty of time inside. The church is located in the Edirnekapı neighbourhood near the ancient Theodosian Walls, slightly off the main tourist trail but well worth the journey and easily reached by taxi or bus from Sultanahmet.