Culture and art / Museum
Hagia Irene (Aya İrini)
Fatih, İstanbul
A Byzantine church in the first courtyard of Topkapı Palace, known for its plain apse cross from the Iconoclast period.
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Its story
One of the city's first churches, Hagia Irene hosted the Second Ecumenical Council in 381. The present building was rebuilt under Justinian after the fire of the Nika riot of 532 and repaired after an earthquake in the 8th century. The large cross in the semi-dome of the apse reflects the non-figurative decoration of the Iconoclast period. Not converted into a mosque after the conquest, the building was used as an armory and military museum; today it is a museum and concert venue.
Key facts
- Period
- Byzantine, 6th–8th century
- Admission
- Paid; Müzekart not valid (outside the scope of the National Palaces)
- Getting there
- T1 tram, Sultanahmet or Gülhane; first courtyard of Topkapı Palace
- Visit duration
- 30 minutes
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Rainy day
Location
41.00972, 28.98111
Where to eat nearby
No food & drink venues listed nearby.
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps
Reviews
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_%C4%B0rini | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Irene