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Istanbul will face large-scale traffic restrictions from Nov. 27 to 30 as Pope Leo XIV visits the city for official meetings.
The four-day program includes several religious services, meetings and public events, which will require closures across key districts on the European side.
The governor’s office issued a detailed schedule that lists the routes that will close and the alternative streets that drivers can use throughout the visit.
Pope Leo XIV will arrive at Ataturk Airport and travel to the Vatican Representation Residence at 5 p.m. The governor’s office will close several main roads during this movement.
The closures include:
Alternative routes available:
The pope will visit Saint Esprit Church and the Bomonti French Poorhouse, and the governor’s office will introduce several closures across Sisli during the morning program.
Closures from 9.30 a.m. for the Saint Esprit and French Poorhouse visits
Drivers can use Valikonagi, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocagi, Buyukdere, 19 Mayis and Merkez streets.
The streets around the French Poorhouse will close earlier. From 7 a.m., Ortakir and Duzoglu streets will remain closed until the end of the program, and drivers can use Silahsor and Incirlidede streets and Nehir, Seshpazari, Gokkusagi and Yeniyol streets.
Closures from 9 a.m. for travel to the Vatican Representation
Alternative routes include Istiklal Street and Valikonagi, Merkez, Buyukdere and Akar streets.
The program will continue with travel to the Ataturk Airport State Guesthouse. Closures will start at 12 p.m. on several major corridors.
Closures from 12 p.m. for the airport movement
Drivers can switch to Tersane, Evliya Celebi, Kemeralti, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocagi, Vali Konagi, Halaskargazi, Abduelezl Pasa, Ragip Gumuspala, Macar Kardesler, Aksu and 10. Yil streets and Sahil Kennedy and Rauf Orbay streets toward Sirkeci.
A second arrival at the Vatican Representation between 2.30 p.m. and the end of the program will use the same route. The governor’s office notes that the same closures and alternative roads will apply.
The pope will visit Sultanahmet Mosque early on Saturday, and the city will introduce several closures across the historic district and the coastal route.
Closures from 7 a.m. for the Sultanahmet program
Drivers can use Ragip Gumus Pala Street.
Around Sultanahmet Mosque, restrictions will start earlier. Closures begin at 6 a.m. on Kucukayasofya and Atmeydani streets and on Torun, Dalbasti, Utangac, Ucler, Nakilbent, Tavukhane and Aksakal streets. Kadirga Limani, Piyerloti and Turkeli streets and Su Terazisi Street will stay open for local access.
The pope will then travel to the Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church. Closures start at 7:45 a.m. on Sahil Rauf Orbay Street between Tashanlar and Havuzlu Junction and on Yesilyurt Station and Demiryolu streets. Drivers can use Ragip Gumuspala, 10. Yil, Aksu and Eski Havaalani streets.
Closures around the church in Bakirkoy from 6 a.m.
Gazi Evrenos and Fener streets will remain open.
The pope will return to the Vatican Representation around 8 a.m. The following routes will close:
Closures during the return movement
Drivers can use D100 North and South, Eski Havaalani Street, Sahil Rauf Orbay Street toward Florya, and Aksu, 10. Yil, Abduelezl Pasa, Ragip Gumuspala, Macar Kardesler, Tersane, Evliya Celebi, Kemeralti, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocagi, Vali Konagi and Halaskargazi streets.
A later visit to the Fener Greek Patriarchate will create several closures across Fatih and Beyoglu from 1:30 p.m.
Closures from 1:30 p.m. for the Fener Greek Patriarchate visit
Drivers can move through Tersane, Evliya Celebi, Kemeralti, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocagi, Vali Konagi and Fevzi Pasa streets.
Additional closures will start earlier around the Patriarchate. Restrictions will begin at 6 a.m. on Yildirim and Dr Sadik Ahmet streets and on Camci Cesmesi Yokusu and Incebel streets. Baki Dede and Sancaktar Yokusu streets will remain open.
The pope will travel to Volkswagen Arena in the afternoon, and several major corridors will close for this movement.
Closures from 2:20 p.m. for the Volkswagen Arena program
The governor’s office lists Ayvansaray, Imrahor, Kemerburgaz, Cilekli and Baltalimani streets, Piyalepasa and Odesa boulevards and the coastal route as alternatives.
Streets around Volkswagen Arena will also close from 7 a.m. The closure covers Ayazaga Street between Akasya Street and Hadim Koruyolu Street. Drivers will move to Buyukdere, Okul, Mimar Sinan and Ayazaga Cendere streets during this period.
The pope will return to the Vatican Representation at 5 p.m., and several routes on the European side will close for the movement.
Closures from 5 p.m. for the return to the Vatican Representation
Open routes during the return
Drivers should plan their routes carefully throughout the afternoon and evening because these closures cover major corridors across the European side.
The pope will travel to the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate in the morning, and the city will introduce several closures before his arrival.
Closures from 7 a.m. for the Armenian Patriarchate visit
Drivers can move through Vali Konagi, Halaskargazi, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocagi, Evliya Celebi, Tersane, Ragip Gumus Pala and Namik Kemal streets.
Around the Armenian Patriarchate, additional closures will start at 6 a.m. on Hayriye Tuccar, Turkeli and Molatasi streets and on Nisanci, Sevgi and Nalbant Camii streets. Sahil Kennedy, Kadirga Limani and Cifte Gelinler streets will remain open.
The pope will then travel to the Fener Greek Patriarchate. From 8:30 a.m., closures will apply to Ataturk Boulevard toward Ataturk Bridge, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasa Street, Ataturk Boulevard toward Unkapani and Ayvansaray, Murselpasa, Kadir Has and Abduelezl Pasa streets. Ragip Gumus Pala and Sahil Kennedy streets will stay open.
Closures around the Patriarchate will continue from 6 a.m. on Yildirim and Dr Sadik Ahmet streets and on Camci Cesmesi Yokusu and Incebal streets. Drivers will use Baki Dede and Sancaktar Yokusu streets.
The pope will depart from the Ataturk Airport State Guesthouse at 12.45 p.m. The governor’s office will close several coastal and main routes for this movement.
Closures from 12.45 p.m. for departure from Ataturk Airport
Drivers can move through Vatan, Millet, Macar Kardesler, Aksu and 10. Yil streets and use D100 for longer routes.
Long-term restrictions will remain around the pope’s accommodation. Satirci, Papa Roncalli and Cebel Topel streets and the junction with Cimen Street will stay closed from Nov. 27 at 7 a.m. to Nov. 30 at 12 p.m. Drivers can use Yedikuyular Street and Cimen and Fransiz Hastanesi streets to access the area.
The four-day program will bring citywide restrictions, and officials encourage residents and visitors to plan their movements with the announced routes in mind. Traffic patterns are expected to return to normal after the pope departs on Nov. 30.
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