Guided by art historian Azat Meriç, this Balat tour invites participants to discover the neighborhood’s diverse cultures and ways of life. Following a route from the Cibali Gate to the Fethiye Mosque, the walk traces the pieces of a cultural mosaic while reviving the memories of the Golden Horn’s shores.

The tour begins at 11:00 am in front of Kadir Has University. The first stop is the Cibali City Gate and Fountain from the Ottoman period. Next, participants will visit the Gül Mosque and Küçük Mustafa Paşa Bathhouse, both reflecting the architectural transition from Byzantine to Ottoman.

The journey continues with religious landmarks that highlight the district’s cultural diversity: Aya Nikola Church, the striking Iron Church built entirely of cast iron, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, one of the most important centers of the Orthodox world. The tour concludes at one of Balat’s most iconic silhouettes, the Phanar Greek Orthodox College (Old Greek School).

Participation is limited to 20 people.