Ahrida Synagogue
Balat, İstanbul, Fatih, Türkiye Judaism
One of Istanbul’s oldest surviving synagogues, rooted in the Jewish community of historic Balat.
The World’s Sacred Places
Sacred Places
Discover a curated guide to significant sacred places, pilgrimage traditions, architecture, documented history and practical visitor information across cultures and faith traditions.
CuratedSource-awareMulti-faithVisitor-ready where known
Curated Discovery
Sacred Places
Browse Sacred Places selected for Templestan’s public collection.
Neve Shalom Synagogue
Galata, İstanbul, Beyoğlu, Türkiye Judaism
A principal synagogue of Istanbul’s Jewish community, opened in 1951 in Galata.
Eshab-ı Kehf Cave, Tarsus
Dedeler, Tarsus, Mersin, Türkiye
A Tarsus cave revered in both Islamic and Christian traditions as a possible setting of the Seven Sleepers story.
Göreme Rock Churches
Göreme, Merkez, Nevşehir, Türkiye Christianity
An exceptional Cappadocian landscape of rock-cut churches, chapels and monastic spaces with major Byzantine fresco cycles.
Basilica of St. John, Ephesus
Ayasuluk Hill, Selçuk, İzmir, Türkiye Christianity
The monumental Byzantine basilica on Ayasuluk Hill built over a tomb traditionally identified with St. John the Apostle.
Aya Yorgi Monastery, Büyükada
Büyükada, İstanbul, Adalar, Türkiye Christianity
A hilltop Orthodox monastery on Büyükada and one of Istanbul’s best-known Christian pilgrimage destinations.
Patriarchal Church of St. George
Fener, İstanbul, Fatih, Türkiye Christianity
The principal church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and a major centre of Eastern Orthodox worship.
Surp Giragos Armenian Church
Fatihpaşa, Diyarbakır, Sur, Türkiye Christianity
A major Armenian Apostolic church in Diyarbakır’s historic Sur district, repeatedly restored after periods of damage.
Holy Cross Church, Akdamar
Akdamar Island, Gevaş, Van, Türkiye Christianity
A celebrated tenth-century Armenian church on an island in Lake Van, built for King Gagik Artsruni.
Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Mardin, Artuklu, Türkiye Christianity
A major Syriac Orthodox monastery outside Mardin that served for centuries as a patriarchal centre.
Mor Gabriel Monastery
Güngören, Midyat, Mardin, Türkiye Christianity
An ancient Syriac Orthodox monastery in Tur Abdin, founded in the late fourth century and still central to Syriac Christian heritage.
St. Thecla Sacred Cave
Meryemlik, Silifke, Mersin, Türkiye Christianity
A major early Christian pilgrimage cave and sanctuary at Meryemlik near Silifke associated with St. Thecla.