Architecture in Turkey | 4 Guides

Turkey's architecture spans millennia and civilizations, from the prehistoric settlements of Çatalhöyük to the soaring domes of Ottoman mosques that defined Islamic architecture's golden age. Our guides explore the buildings that make Turkey an architectural pilgrimage—the engineering marvel of Hagia Sophia that influenced construction for a thousand years, the elegant proportions of Sinan's mosque masterpieces, and the Ottoman urban planning that created coherent neighborhoods of mosques, bazaars, and hamams. Discover the evolution from Byzantine church to Ottoman mosque, the regional variations from Seljuk Anatolia to Ottoman Istanbul, and the distinctive elements that mark Turkish architecture through different periods. We provide context that helps you understand architectural innovations, appreciate engineering achievements that still impress modern builders, and recognize the historical influences that shaped each structure.