Chora Museum (Kariye Museum)

The Chora Museum, or Kariye Müzesi, is a former medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church renowned for its breathtaking mosaics and frescoes. Originally constructed in the 4th century, the current structure largely dates from the 11th to 14th centuries, with its most celebrated internal decoration added during the early 14th century. These artworks are considered some of the finest surviving examples of Byzantine art. The church was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman era and later into a museum in 1945. In 2020, it was converted back into a mosque. Despite its changing status, the intricate narrative cycles depicting the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary remain remarkably preserved, offering a profound insight into Late Byzantine artistic expression and theological thought. It is a smaller site than Hagia Sophia but equally significant for its artistic heritage.