Fodor's Expert Review Kariye Camii

Temporarily closed for renovation, the Chora Church, formerly a museum and now a mosque, contains dazzling mosaics and frescoes that are considered to be among the world's finest Byzantine artworks. Most of the mosaics, in 50 panels, depict scenes from the New Testament and date from the 14th century. They are in splendid condition, having been plastered over when the church became a mosque in the 16th century and not uncovered until the 1940s. "Chora" comes from the Greek word for countryside; the original church here was outside the city walls that were built by Constantine the Great, but at the beginning of the 5th century AD, Theodosius built new fortifications to expand the growing city, which brought the church inside the walls. The current edifice is believed to have been built in the 12th century. The easiest way to reach Kariye Camii is by taxi or by Edirnekapı-bound bus from Eminönu or Taksim Square. The tree-shaded café outside the mosque is a pleasant spot for lunch before you trek back into town.