Dosseman · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source & license
Trabzon · Place 2 · 19M
Trabzon Hagia Sophia Mosque
Indoor access needs confirmation
A 13th-century Byzantine church of the Empire of Trebizond, now a mosque.
Suggested time45 min only if access is confirmed
Elevation & effort19 m · Level walk
Best windowMorning outside prayer times, with daylight for the exterior details.
Walking noteShort walk
PRACTICAL ACCESS & WALKING METHOD
Take a bus or taxi west from the centre to Fatih Mahallesi. Allow about an hour if walking from Ortahisar along the coast.
HISTORY & ARCHITECTURAL CONTEXT
Built in the 13th century under Manuel I Komnenos of the Empire of Trebizond, this Byzantine church became a mosque after the conquest of 1461. It was a museum from 1964 to 2013 and has been a mosque again since 2013. Look for the detached bell tower, Creation frieze on the south portico and frescoes in the narthex.
Why visit
Examine the stone reliefs and the shape of the building.
VISITOR TIP — WHAT NOT TO MISS
Do not enter during worship; an exterior walk is a visit in its own right.
