Sultanahmet/Sarayburnu/Aya Sofya

The centre of the world in Byzantine times. The area is dominated by the massive Aya Sofya and its slightly smaller partner, Aya Ireni. Just down the hill is the idiosyncratic Küçük Aya Sofya, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Apart from those, it’s all ruins. Half of Saray Burnu itself is a military zone and the rest is covered by Topkapı Palace, railways and building activity. Remains exist of an astonishing number of Byzantine churches but they take a vast amount of preparation and officialdom (or criminal trespass) to find. ^[1]

1. Church of St Mary Chalcoprateia/Khalkopratia

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2. Küçük Aya Sofya/Church of St Serge and St Bacchus

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3. Aya Sofya/The Church of the Divine Wisdom

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4. Aya Irini/ The Church of Hagia Eirene/The Church of the Divine Peace

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5. Monastery of St Saviour Philanthropes

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6. Church of St George of the Manganes

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7. Church of St Mary Hodegetria

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8. Goth’s Column Church, Gülhane Park (Orphanage of St Paul/St Demetrios/St Menas)

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9. Martyrium of St Euphemia

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10. Churches in the region of the Great Palace.

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11. The Palace Basilica.

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12. Chapels in the Bucoleon Palace

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13. Churches in the Palace of Botaneiates

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14. The Church at Cankurtaran

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15. The cistern underneath Sarnıç Nargile Café

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16. Kapι Agasι  Camii/ Mahmut Aga Camii

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17. Ayazma underneath Sedir’s Carpet Shop/Kirkit Travel

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18. The Church in Günaydın Carpark

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