Hagia Sophia, once the greatest church in the Christian world until its conversion into a mosque in 1453, is now one of Istanbul’s most well known and breathtakingly beautiful museums. Read more about Hagia Sophia - Ayasofya Museum
St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral, also known in Italian as Sant'Antonio di Padova Cathedral, St. Antoine, or Sent Antuan in Turkey, dates to 1912. It is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the city. Read more about St Anthony of Padua Catholic Cathedral
***NOTE THAT THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR RENOVATION*** Once a church, later a mosque and now partly a museum, the Byzantine-era mosaics are among the Pammakaristos's finest drawcards. Read more about Pammakaristos Church - Fethiye Mosque Museum
Hagia Irene is one of the oldest Christian churches in Istanbul. Commissioned by the Byzantine emperor Constantinople in the 4th century, the first structure was made of wood. Read more about Hagia Irene
The Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Surp Krikor Lusavoric) can be found next to the quay in Kuzguncuk. This Armenian church, which dates to 1835, is constructed of stone and brick. Read more about Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Neve Shalom, meaning ‘Oasis of Peace’, is the largest working Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul. It was designed by Turkish-Jewish architects Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola and opened in 1951. Read more about Neve Shalom Synagogue
The Jewish Museum of Turkey, which is housed in the former Zulfaris Synagogue, aims to “collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret and disseminate knowledge about the cultural heritage of the Turkish Jews. Read more about Jewish Museum of Turkey - Zulfaris Synagogue
*CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION- CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC* This mosque was once the second largest monastery church in Constantinople after Hagia Sophia. Read more about Church of the Pantocrator - Zeyrek Cami
Istanbul has been host to many civilizations and cultures throughout its long history, and these civilizations also brought their religions to the city.
There are many examples of old churches in the city, some of which date back as far as Byzantine times. From Greek Orthodox to Armenian, Bulgarian and Roman Catholic, Istanbul also has a number of more modern churches as well as some fine synagogues.
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