The Kariye Museum or Chora Church has stood for 15 centuries. From the outside, the landmark of Istanbul and all of Turkey has a relatively modest appearance, and for this reason, without going inside, it is impossible to understand its superiority. The interior captivates with the mosaic decor of the walls and vaults. This historical building, surrounded by greenery, peacefully awaits its visitors and is especially striking in its decorative and decorative design.
As with other similar sites in Turkey, Kariye combines a church and a museum, being a valuable place for different religious beliefs and cultures. The museum was used as a church from the 6th century, and in 1511 it was converted into a mosque by the queen's eunuch, Ali Pasha. Since 1945, the building has been open to visitors as a museum. The site is called Kariye, but is also known today as Hora, which means "countryside." When the building was first built, it was located outside the city.
The museum's sixteen windows allow plenty of daylight into the rooms and allow visitors to see details of the paintings on the walls. The site is built in the shape of a Greek cross. The main hall is covered by a dome and is the central area where the service took place. The pareklesia is also covered by a dome and has a burial chapel, which is built on the ground floor.
The Cariye Museum continues to enchant thousands of visitors each year with its architecture dating back to the Eastern Roman Empire and the dazzling Renaissance. Particularly popular are the mosaics that adorn the walls of the museum. This decoration gives a three-dimensional effect and has a decisive place in the history of art. Turkey and the world. Among the most famous scenes of the mosaic you can see the image of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the death of the Virgin Mary, and Saint Apostle Peter.
Anyone can visit the Kariye Museum daily from 09.00:19.00 to 09.00:16.30 in summer and from XNUMX:XNUMX to XNUMX:XNUMX in winter.
