The Church of St. Savior in Chora (Kariye Müzesi)

The Church of St. Savior in Chora (Kariye Müzesi) is one of the best examples of Byzantine art that can be found in the world. It was built between 1316 and 1321 according to plans by Teodoro Metoquines.

St. Savior in Chora
St. Savior in Chora Chorasan mosaic
Mosaic in St. Saviour in Chora
The most spectacular of the church are frescoes and Byzantine mosaics, as they are considered the best preserved in the world.

Curiously, Chora means "out of town" and that the church was built on the outside of the walls of ancient Byzantium.

The Ottoman period
Like St. Sophia, after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire, St. Saviour in Chora was converted into Mosque. In 1948 he began its restoration and ten years later it was opened to the public as a museum.

During the time that served as a mosque frescoes were covered with plaster, a detail that could help in their conservation.

our opinion
While its mosaics and frescoes are stunning, its relative distance (the streetcar or subway) and high price make the visit, although many people the indispensable catalog, we have doubts about recommending it to the general public . If you like Byzantine art, St. Saviour in Chora you will love.