Byzantine Empire

Historical artifacts in Turkey and abroad have survived thanks to the efforts of the General Directorate of Foundations. Nearly 4,000 structures have been restored in 13 years, says the general director Between 2002 and 2015, nearly 4,000 cultural and historical artifacts across Turkey have been restored, according to General Directorate of Foundations Director Adnan Ertem. 

In the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire launched extensive modernization projects to transform Istanbul into a European metropolis. Some of these designs were realized and some never saw the light of day.

A rare Byzantine gold coin dating back to the 11th century has been found in the ancient city of Perperikon, the renowned Bulgarian archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov revealed on Sunday.

The coin made of 23-carat gold is depicting Byzantine Emperor Basil II (976-1025) and his younger brother Emperor Constantine VIII (1025-1028).

The fourth issue of MUSA, the quarterly cultural review produced by the press and communication office of the Greek embassy in WashingtonD.C., highlights Byzantine Thessaloniki in its current edition.

Considered the “second capital” of Byzantium after imperial Constantinople, Thessaloniki today retains numerous monuments of the 1,000-year Eastern Christian empire.

NIS - The international science conference entitled "The Byzantine Empire and Orthodoxy" was opened in Nis on Thursday bringing together over 30 prominent scientists from Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy and Serbia.

Who said newsletters were a thing of the past? Many are, but a unique, non-Internet one in Istanbul has certainly bucked the trend. Can?m Istanbul is a free, beautifully illustrated and refreshingly short newsletter (you can read it in less than a minute) that is sent to your mailbox twice a week and lets you in on everything up-and-coming in Istanbul. 

Five Ottoman edicts have found a home in Sarajevo's Old Orthodox Church Museum, which is normally the home of some of the world's most valuable Christian icons.

The edicts date from the time when the rule of Ottoman sultans extended across southeastern Europe, from the mid-15th to the late 19th centuries.

Dr. Ferhat Aslan's book titled "The Secrets of Agia Sophia" states that huge quantities of gold and silver are buried at the foundations of Agia Sophia church in Istanbul. The Turkish professor maintains that there may be some truth to the many legends surrounding the Byzantine church and scratches at the surface of some of these.

On Monday, March 23, a fascinating photo exhibition will kick off at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Alimos, offering its visitors the opportunity to admire 60 photographs of the Walls of Constantinople, a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great.

In a city largely devoid of public libraries, Istanbul?s Atatürk Library has literally become a beacon in the night for bibliophiles, after it became Turkey?s first library to keep its doors open around the clock.

One of the first reference centers of Turkey?s republican era, the Atatürk Library has been offering a 24/7 service since last October, leading to a huge rise in visitors.