Santa Maria Draperis Church

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Turkish Name: Santa Maria Draperis Kilisesi

Santa Maria Draperis Church is located on the left side close to the Tunnel . It is situated under the avenue because it is built on a slope area . The Santa Maria Inn and public housings in between are connecting with the church and thus form a complex .

The original Santa Maria Church which was built on Galata Mum Hane Avenue was bunt down in 1584 . Madame Clara Bratola Draperis donated an area of a house to be build again on it and that is why "Draperis" word was added to the church's name . There came many fires till on 1769 it moved into its today's location . The fires however carried on and the building was rebuild again and used for other purposes , then finally renewed and turned into a church with the permission of Abdlilhamit II on 1904 .

There is a statue of the Virgin Mary placed in a niche above the entrance , an iron gate divided by three arches . Moreover , on the archway , there is a marble plaque hangs just above the rightmost arch . The plate includes the names of Sultan Abdülhamid II , who gave his permission for the construction of the church , as well as the name of Rıdvan Pasha , the mayor of İstanbul who supported the construction . The church is considered the only church that has the name of a caliph of the Islamic world above its door . Over the entrance gate , there is a beautiful golden mosaic depicting the Virgin Marry standing on a seashell carried by two angels .