Built in 1501-06, this was the second great mosque complex to be founded in the city. The first, the Fatih Mosque, was destroyed, which makes Beyazıt the oldest imperial mosque...

Otherwise known as St Mary of the Mongols, this 13th-century church was erected in honour of Princess Maria, daughter of Emperor Michael VIII, who was married off to the khan...

Erected in 1871 for Istanbul's Bulgarian community, this church is still used today by Macedonian Christians. It is constructed entirely from prefabricated iron sections, cast...

Tentatively dated to the 13th century, this church was taken over by the Armenians in the early 17th century. Although much of the current structure dates from 1835, the side...

Fatih Mosque is a popular place for pious picnickers. The vast 18th-century baroque structure is built on the site of the Church of the Holy Apostles, burial place of most...

Also known as 'Little Haghia Sophia' because of its resemblance to Justinian's great cathedral. Like its larger namesake, it was originally a church, in this case dedicated to...

Construction on the mosque began in 1598, but suffered a setback when the architect was executed for heresy. It was eventually completed in 1663, after the classical period of...

Constructed on one of the seven hills within the walls of former Constantinople, this was the first mosque in the city built in the style known as Turkish Baroque. Istanbul...

Above the shops, (whose rents pay for its upkeep), the mosque is invisible from the street. It's quite a city secret, although it's one of the most beautiful mosques built by...

It may have been built to commemorate Sultan Selim the Grim, nicknamed for his habit of executing senior officials on a whim, but this little-visited mosque is one of the most...

Originally an ancient sanctuary of Artemis, the first church was built over the 'life-giving spring' here in the early Byzantine era. Destroyed and rebuilt many times, the...

One of Sinan's later buildings (constructed between 1571-72), this mosque has been widely praised by architectural historians for its skilful handling of an uneven, sloping...

Completed in 1557 under Süleyman the Magnificent, this stunning mosque is arguably the crowning achievement of architect Mimar Sinan. Built on Istanbul's highest hill, it is...

Seductively curvaceous and enhanced by a lovingly attended park in front, Sultanahmet Mosque is Islamic architecture at its sexiest. Commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I (1603-17)...