Church of St. Polyeuctus

The excavated ruins of this sixth-century church lie in the Saraçhane district near the Valens Aqueduct, marking what was once among the largest and most lavish churches in Constantinople. Commissioned by the aristocrat Anicia Juliana, it predated Hagia Sophia and was famed for rich marble carving influenced by Sasanian motifs. Sculptural fragments later travelled as far as Venice, where the Pilastri Acritani stand by St Mark's. Today visitors see foundation walls, column bases and peacock reliefs in an open field.