Byzantine Sites and Byzantine Ruins

Byzantine Empire sites : Site Index

• Agios Eleftherios
  Agios Eleftherios is a very small yet important Byzantine church in Athens known as the little cathedral, one of many religious Byzantine sites.
  Photo by archer10 (Dennis) (cc)

• Bachkovo Monastery
  An example of the Byzantine sites in Bulgaria, Bachkovo Monastery is said to be the second largest monastery in the country and one of its oldest.
  

• Butrint
  Butrint is a prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage site in south west Albania which has been occupied by the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines.
  Photo by keepwaddling1 (cc)

• Carthage National Museum
  Carthage National Museum contains a wide selection of artefacts and exhibitions from the Punic, Roman and Byzantine periods of Carthage. It is a good place to begin you exploration of the ruins of this ancient city.
  Photo by nonanet (cc)

• Church of Agios Lazaros
  One of the important Byzantine sites in Cyprus, the Church of Agios Lazaros was built in the tenth century AD to house the believed tomb of Saint Lazarus.
  Photo by Christian Stock (cc)

• Church of Saint Nicholas, Myra
  One of the oldest surviving churches in the world, this church and museum looks at the life of Saint Nicholas, aka Santa Claus.
  Photo by yilmaz ovunc (cc)

• Church of the Annunciation - Nazareth
  The Church of the Annunciation is believed to be the site where Gabriel told Mary she was to conceive the son of G-d. It is amongst the most important Christian Byzantine sites.
  Photo by hoyasmeg (cc)

• Citadel of Salah Ed-Din
  Originally built by the Byzantines, the Citadel of Salah Ed-Dinis was a Crusader castle until its capture by Saladin. One of many UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine sites.
  Photo by peuplier (cc)

• Goreme Open Air Museum
  Located in the picturesque Goreme Valley, Goreme’s open air museum is one of the most accessible ways to explore the region's ancient rock-cut churches.
  Photo by alex_m_jones (cc)

• Hagia Sophia
  One of many important Byzantine sites in Istabul, the Hagia Sophia is a world famous sixth century church turned mosque.
  Photo by David Spender (cc)

• Hagia Sophia, Trabzon
  A thirteenth century church, a fifteenth century mosque and a twentieth century museum, the Trabzon Hagia Sophia has a fascinating history and boasts a wealth of ancient art and frescoes.
  Photo by Turkish Travel (cc)

• Haidra
  Haidra contains the remains of the Roman city of Ammaedara and includes a number of interesting ruins including the large Byzantine fort and underground Roman baths.
  

• Histria
  Histria was occupied by the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines and is thought to be the oldest settlement in Romania.
  Photo by amiinsidemyself (cc)

• Ihlara Valley
  The Ihlara Valley is famous for a number of rock-carved ancient churches known for their ornate frescoes depicting biblical events.
  Photo by Verity Cridland (cc)

• Istanbul Mosaic Museum
  The Istanbul Mosaic Museum contains the amazing remains of mosaics excavated the Great Palace of Constantinople built during the Byzantine period.
  Photo by Elisa atene (cc)

• Kaunos
  Kaunos contains the remains of an ancient Carian city and includes a host of Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine remains – particularly its impressive theatre.
  Photo by Rev Stan (cc)

• Knidos
  The picturesque remains of the ancient city of Knidos are a popular tourist attraction, as much for the beautiful coastal views as for the archaic ruins.
  Photo by silverman68 (cc)

• Kourion
  Kourion is an impressive archaeological site in Cyprus containing mostly Ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins.
  

• Melnik
  Melnik is said to be Bulgaria’s smallest town yet has quite a few historic buildings, several from the Byzantine and medieval period.
  

• Museum of Byzantine Culture - Thessaloniki
  The Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki explores the history and legacy of the Byzantine era.
  

• Myra
  Myra has one of the best-preserved collections of ancient ruins, and is a perfect place to experience an illustrious period of Greek and Roman history being brought back to life.
  Photo by erinc salor (cc)

• Nokalakevi
  An ancient city in Georgia, Nokalakevi contains remains from hundreds of years of ancient occupation and is best known for its massive Byzantine walls.
  

• Ozkonak Underground City
  Ozkonak is one of many examples of an underground city in Cappadocia which was carved into the mountains in ancient times. It is smaller but far quieter than many of the other underground cities in the region.
  Photo by bitmask (cc)

• Priene
  Priene is a quiet, picturesque ancient Greek city in Turkey which boasts some amazing historical remains without the crowds of the nearby sites. It contains several Byzantine ruins.
  

• Sabratha
  A picturesque ancient city on Libya’s coast, Sabratha contains some excellent Roman ruins.
  

• Simena
  The ruins of Simena are spread along beautiful beaches and submerged under crystal clear waters. Enjoy spectacular views from the crusader castle or explore an authentic Lycian Necropolis.
  Photo by offwhitehouse (cc)

• St Savior in Chora
  St Savior in Chora, Turkey is an eleventh century church turned mosque and, more recently, a museum known as Kariye Muzesi.
  

• Sumela Monastery
  A 13th century monastery nestled into the cliff-face of the Zigana Mountains, this picturesque Byzantine monastery is located in a scenic, mountainous setting.
  Photo by samurai_dave (cc)

• The Basilica Cistern
  The Basilica Cistern is an underground wonder and one of Istanbul’s best Byzantine sites.
  

• The Shiloach Pool
  The Shiloach Pool in Jerusalem is thought to date back to the Byzantine period.
  

• The White Tower of Thessaloniki
  The White Tower of Thessaloniki, is a cylindrical stone tower monument and museum in the city of Thessaloniki, capital of the Macedonian region of northern Greece.
  

• Timgad
  The ruins of Timgad are the extremely well-preserved remains of an Ancient Roman military encampment in Algeria. It was once of several ancient Roman and Byzantine sites restored under Emperor Justinian.
  

• Umm Qais
  Umm Qais, also spelt Umm Qays, houses the remains of Gadara, one of the Decapolis cities and contains an array of Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins.
  

• Yedikule Zindanlari
  Yedikule Zindanlari is an impressive Byzantine and medieval fort in Istanbul. One of several Byzantine sites in the city.
  Photo by By Ramblurr (cc)