Okay here is the deal, Istanbul is full of mosques and churches. Some are very easily reachable while some are hard because even the locals are not aware of them. This one is called St. Mary Pammakaristos Church or The Church Of The Theotokos Pammakaristos (The Joyous Mother Of God) originally, strangely it was not immediately converted into a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople but operated as a Church until 1573.
It's in a district which does reflect modern Turkey one bit but the experience is fabulous. Honestly as a local when I go to this district I feel like a foreigner. This unique Byzantine Church is standing on the terrace overlooking the Golden Horn. It is located in a rather open field where you can walk around and observe the structure. The mosaics of the church are not as mind-blowing as St. Chora but yet are unique in their context. You can see the naked mosaic of Jesus Christ which is a rare scene. Unfortunately most of the interior walls were demolished but then restored when the structure was converted into a museum. You can visit this off the beaten church/mosque/museum if you are in the area. Don't forget to take photos as the mosaics are losing their touch as years go by.
Find your way with 237 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
The "Pera Museum" is for you if you're into art from the life of Istanbul and the Ottoman world between the 17th and early 20th century...
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"The Shoe-shine boys" is a very typical Istanbul sight. Having your shoes painted and polished is a nice experience, just be careful who does it for you!
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The "Fenerbahçe Steamboat" has carried passengers across Istanbul's Bosphorus over 55 years. Now you can see this historical ship in Rahmi Koc Museum.
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"Holy Fragrance" sellers sit just outside mosques and provide refreshing perfumes. I would recommend the ones in Istanbul's Beyazit and Yeni mosques.
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"Kurucu Ali Baba Restaurant" is one of the restaurants that serve haricot beans just outside Suleymaniye in Istanbul. Great service, worth the money...
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The "Tortoise Trainer" is one of my favorite paintings to be found in Istanbul. You can see it in the contemporary/orientalist Istanbul Pera museum.
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"Grand Bazaar" is my place to buy the best Istanbul souvenir: round, fat evil eyes! Just don't forget to bargain...
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"Udonya" is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Istanbul. I can recommend it when you feel you've had enough of Turkish cuisine!
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"Kontraplak" is a 'clean' Istanbul record shop, especially for its selection of second-hand vinyl. The owner, Okan, is very open-minded and will help you...
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The Istanbul "Naval Museum" is one of the best museums in Turkey - no, I think it's one of the world's most exceptional, and we're lucky to have it.
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The Istanbul "Archaeology Museum" is just huge. As someone who always visits these museums, these ones (there's actually three!) are a must.
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237 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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