St. Clemens Church, Ancient church ruins in Altindag district, Ankara, Turkey
St. Clemens Church is an ancient church ruin in Ankara's Altindag district, with only one remaining wall and a marble block carved with a Latin cross still visible. These fragments show the early Christian design that once defined this site.
The church was built in the 4th century to honor Saint Clement, a bishop of Ancyra, and served as a Christian worship site. During Ottoman times it was converted into a mosque, until a fire in 1916 caused major damage.
The church shows how religious practices shifted in Ankara over centuries, as the building transformed from an early Christian place of worship into an Ottoman mosque. You can see these different periods layered into what remains today.
The ruins are located between Denizciler Avenue and Cikrikcilar Slope in the Ulus neighborhood, just behind the former courthouse of Ankara. The site is within walking distance of the historic center.
Several architectural elements from the original church, including column capitals and window frames, were removed from the site and are now on display at the Roman Bath Open Air Museum. These pieces show the craftsmanship of the builders who first constructed this place.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
