Church of St. Mary Draperis, Catholic church in Beyoğlu, Turkey
Church of St. Mary Draperis is a Catholic place of worship in Beyoğlu featuring a single-nave basilical layout across two floors with smooth cut stone walls and neoclassical design. The interior centers on a pink Carrara marble altar that dominates the worship space.
The church was built in 1769 by Clara Maria Draperis, a Levantine benefactor, replacing earlier structures destroyed by fires in 1660, 1697, and 1767. The cycle of destruction and rebuilding reflects the building's resilience through centuries of change.
The church serves as a spiritual hub for the Italian community, offering daily services in Italian while welcoming worshippers from Spanish and Korean backgrounds on Sundays. This mix of languages reflects how the space brings together different communities living in the city.
The building sits along Istiklal Avenue at number 215 and is accessed via a steep staircase decorated with ornamental railings. Wearing comfortable shoes helps when navigating the climb and the narrow alley leading to the entrance.
A wooden icon of the Virgin Mary has survived multiple fires throughout the centuries and now rests on the main altar. This sacred object represents one of the few continuities linking the building's past to its present.
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