Samatya

Samatya is the area inside the sea walls on the Marmara sea side. There are no intact Byzantine buildings here but a lot of interesting remains and links with the glories of Constantinople. Samatya probably has the highest density of churches anywhere in Istanbul. The buildings themselves are almost all from the 19^th century although many are built over the foundations of churches from Byzantine times. Samatya is the only part of Istanbul to retain its Greek name. Most of the churches are Greek but this area has a strong Armenian presence, the Patriarchate being at Kumkapı. The major Byzantine monuments are the fortress of Yedikule with its increasingly redundant Triumphal Gate, and what is left of the once-fabulous Monastery of St John of Studion.

St George of the Cypresses

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Martyrium of Saints Karpos and Papylos

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Monastery of St Mary Peribleptes/Armenian Church of St Kevork (George)/Sulu Manastir

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Imrohor Camii/St John of Stoudion/Studius

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