Fatih, Administrative district in Istanbul, Turkey
Fatih stretches across a peninsula between the Golden Horn to the north, the Sea of Marmara to the south, and the Theodosian Walls to the west. Its boundaries cover the entire historic old town with its narrow lanes, hills, and numerous mosques.
After the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, Sultan Mehmed II named the area after his own epithet. He ordered a grand mosque to be built on the ruins of the Church of the Holy Apostles, which became the religious center of the new empire.
The neighborhood around the Sultan Mehmed Mosque carries the epithet "Conqueror" and recalls the fall of the city in 1453. Today it houses mainly observant families, while the western part near Balat and Fener is home to Armenian and Greek communities.
Individual neighborhoods carry their own postal codes, making it easier for visitors to find their way around. Those exploring Sultanahmet should look for 34122, while Balat can be found under 34087.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate has its seat in the small Church of St. George in the Fener neighborhood. At the same time, the most important administrative buildings of the entire province are located here, including the city hall and police headquarters.
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