Where? Fener, İstanbul

What? Phanar Greek Orthodox College’, (‘Kırmızı Mektep’ literally meaning ‘Red School’ in Turkish)

19th century building by the famous architect Dimadis

 

The history of the school actually goes back to the 15th century. In 1454, Mehmet the Conqueror issued an edict to the Byzantines who had left the city when it was conquered. With the edict, he informed them that the Greek Orthodox community can receive education in their own language and pray freely in their churches.

So some members of the community came back from the Greek islands and Italy, settled back in Fener and built this school which was rebuilt in the 19th century by the famous architect Dimadis.