Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul, Catholic church in Karaköy district, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Church of SS Peter and Paul is a Catholic place of worship in the Karaköy district, featuring a central dome decorated with a blue sky and gold stars inside. The structure incorporates sections of old Genoese fortification walls and includes a cemetery with inscribed gravestones plus a crypt beneath the building.
The original structure faced multiple destructions by fire until the Fossati brothers reconstructed it completely between 1841 and 1843. This rebuilding marks a pivotal moment for the Catholic presence in Istanbul, as the church has served as the spiritual center of this community ever since.
The church serves the Catholic community of Istanbul, blending European religious traditions with the local context of this historic port city. Visitors can observe how this congregation maintains its practices today, with Italian-language services reflecting connections to Mediterranean heritage.
The building is located in the Galata area near Kuledibi and is easiest to reach via public pathways leading to this historic neighborhood. Visitors should note that regular services are held, so it is wise to check ahead when the church is open for tourists to visit.
The church houses a special religious treasure: a Virgin of the Hodegetria icon brought from a Dominican church in Crimea. The burial monument also contains relics of several saints, giving this site rare spiritual significance for pilgrims and believers.
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