5 Most Important Churches to Visit in Izmir, Turkey

Izmir is a witness to human history’s 8.500-year history. Therefore, it is also home to a large number of religious places. In Izmir, we see churches from numerous imperial periods from the Byzantine period to the Ottoman Empire that have remained until today.

Among the notable churches in Izmir, there are well-established churches such as St. Polycarp Church, St. Jean Church, and others.

1. St. Polycarp Church in Izmir

St. Polycarp Church is a catholic church named after Polycarp, one of the twelve apostles, John’s student, and Bishop of Izmir. The church was constructed with the approval of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I (Suleiman the Magnificent) in 1625.

Following several fires and natural disasters, the church has undergone numerous renovations. If you wish to visit the church, you can do so between 3 and 5 PM every day. Also, it is quite easy to get to the church. It is a 2-minute walk from the Çankaya stop on the Metro, one of the public transportations in Izmir.

Google Map Location of St Polycarp Church

2. St. Voukolos Church in izmir

St. Voukolos Church, which now serves as an opera theatre, was dilapidated for many years. The church was restored and made available for usage by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the following years. It was built in honor of St. Voukolos and St. Ayavukla, two of Symrna’s earliest bishops. This church, which was constructed during the Greek period, was last restored in 2010.

Currently, it has been transformed into a multi-purpose cultural and social service hall. You can reach the church in Konak at the end of a 10-minute walk after getting off at the Basmane stop via the Metro.

Google Map Location of St Voukolos Church

3. Alsancak Catholic Church of Holy Rosary in Izmir

Alsancak Catholic Church, located on the opposite shore of Alsancak pier, is a historical church that was established in the early 1900s. It features the greatest organ and is also the busiest of the churches in Izmir.

Nonetheless, Alsancak Catholic Church is Izmir’s only Dominican church. It is also available to the public on weekdays from 15.00 and 18.00. The church is directly across the street from the Basmane Metro station; thus, it is quite easy to access.

Google Map Location of Alsancak Catholic Church

4. St. John's Cathedral in izmir

St. John’s Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Izmir. It is named after one of the twelve apostles, John the Evangelist. The church, which began construction in 1862, was completed in 1874. Furthermore, remnants from the Roman period were discovered as a result of excavations conducted by the Austrian Archeology Institute.

On the other hand, many public transportation options, including buses, trams, and metro, are available to get you to the church. You can walk to the church in Izmir/Konak for 5-10 minutes, depending on where you get off.

Google Map Location of St John’s Cathédral

5. St. Jean Church in Izmir

St. Jean Church is situated in the Selçuk district of Izmir province, to the south of Ayasuluk Hill, where Selçuk Castle is located. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527-565) constructed this church in the sixth century AD on the ruins of a former structure known as St. Jean.

Today, the Church of St. Jean is one of the seven churches from the early centuries of Christianity in the Aegean Region.Three of the Church of St. Jean columns are still in good shape. Additionally, the church is accessible via public transportation from various locations in Izmir.

Google Map Location of St Jean Church

Which church did you like the most? Let us know your favorite!

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