Fatih Mosque is a fabulous architectural monument. It has a very unusual history. Initially, a Basilica, built in Byzantine style was located in its place. Later, it was converted into a mosque. The Basilica was apparently founded in the 14th century. It took hundreds of years to reconstitute the building. The reconstruction was completed in 1804 only. Unique frescoes and mosaics of the old basilica were entirely painted over. The old building managed to preserve only unique features of Byzantine style during its lifetime. Beautiful Yeni Kum mosque suffered a similar fate. Primarily, it was an old Christian church. The exact date of its construction is unknown. There remained a memorial inscription on one of the walls. It keeps the year 1291. Remaining fragments of Christian frescoes and mosaics that used to decorate the basilica, as well as special elements of natural wood are other fabulous features of the mosque. Miniature Byzantine St. Anne's church is also an important historical monument for the city. It was built in the 9th century. Built in the era of the Byzantium Empire, it miraculously preserved not only original external features, but a number of elements of internal decor. At a certain period, the church had been converted into a mosque, however, it did not lose its historical charm. A tour to the city's Historical Museum promises to be fascinating. The museum occupies a beautiful two-storey mansion. The variety of its exhibits is incredibly large. You can see
…
Read further
