Founded by Macedonians from the town of Ohrid (of which 'Ahrida' is a corruption) in the 15th century, the synagogue's congregation later comprised the city's Sephardic Jewish...
Kürkçüçeşme Sokak 9Built between 1323 and 1337, and dedicated to St Dominic and St Paul, this was the largest of Constantinople's Latin churches. In the early 16th century, it was converted into...
Fütühat SokakBuilt 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...
Beyazıt SquareOtherwise 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...
Tevkii Cafer Mektebi SokakOften overlooked because it's so far off the beaten track, for Byzantine splendour this church (also known as the Kariye Mosque or Museum) is second only to Haghia Sophia....
Kariye Camii Sokak 26Erected 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...
Mürsel Paşa Caddesi 85-8Tentatively 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...
Kamış SokakFatih 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...
Fevzi Paşa CaddesiThe central section of the seat of Greek Orthodoxy is permanently closed in memory of Patriarch Gregory V, who was hanged from it in 1821 as punishment for the outbreak of the...
Sadrazam Ali Paşa CaddesiThe third sacred building on the site to bear the name, the existing Haghia Sophia ('Divine Wisdom') was dedicated on 26 December AD 537 by Emperor Justinian. He had come to...
Sultanahmet SquareAlso 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...
Küçük Ayasofya CaddesiConstruction 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...
Eminönü MeydanıConstructed 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...
Vezirhanı CaddesiAbove 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...
Hasırcılar Caddesi 90It 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...
Yavuz Selim Caddesi