Whenever I find myself on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street, I always stop by the Church of Saint Mary Draperis — a small, cosy place just a few metres away from the city’s busiest pedestrian street. Today I’d like to show you a few photos of the church and share the story of how it was founded.
History of the church
Guidebooks to Istanbul say that the history of this Roman Catholic church dates back to the 16th century (some sources mention the 15th century), when Franciscan monks completed the construction of the Church of Saint Anthony in the Sirkeci district. Today this part of the city is known for its major transport hub and the railway station of the same name, which in the past was the terminus of the famous Orient Express.
The monks’ first religious building in Sirkeci has not survived. Later they began looking for a place to build a new church, and they were in luck: a plot for construction was donated by a woman named Klar Bratola Draperis. The first church on this site was founded in 1584.
The present church building was constructed in 1904. The architect was Guglielmo Semprini. I’ve come across information that some of the church’s interiors date back to 1874. Most likely, older elements were preserved during the construction work carried out in the early 20th century.
How to get there
Istiklal Street is one of the city’s main tourist attractions, and I’m sure almost every traveller ends up in this area while getting to know Istanbul. You can walk here from the Galata Bridge or Galataport, take the metro to Taksim or Şişhane stations, or ride one of the funiculars — their stops are located at both ends of the pedestrian zone.
The Church of Saint Mary Draperis is located in the southern part of Istiklal Street, closer to Şişhane station and the funicular called Tünel.
You can recognise the entrance to the church grounds by the triple arcade with a statue of the Virgin Mary on top. A long staircase leads up to the church.
As I’ve already mentioned, I’ve been here several times, but I haven’t always managed to get inside. According to the information posted at the entrance, the church is open to visitors during services, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00.
After visiting the church, you can continue exploring the religious sites of this neighbourhood. Nearby you’ll find the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua and the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity.
Enjoy your walks!
