Caferağa Medresseh
Istanbul, Turkey
Open to visitors
The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.
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The Caferağa Medrese, built in 1559 by the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan on the orders of Cafer Agha during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, stands adjacent to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul's Sultanhamet district. Originally a madrasa, or Islamic school, the building features a traditional courtyard plan with learning rooms arranged around a central court, accessed through a main gate. In 1989 it was transformed into a cultural center dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional Turkish arts including calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry, and mosaics. The medrese now operates as an important hub for Turkish classical arts under the Foundation for the Service of Turkish Culture, hosting annual exhibitions of student work and maintaining a restaurant serving Turkish cuisine. Located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site conservation area that encompasses the historical district, the structure remains accessible via stairs descending from the street near Topkapi Palace.
Architect
- Type
- madrasa
- Place
- Istanbul, Turkey
This building on
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