The Ahrida Synagogue is one of the oldest and most important synagogues in Istanbul, founded in the 15th century before the Ottoman conquest by Jews from the town of Ohrid (Ahrida) in present-day North Macedonia. It anchors Balat's long history as the heart of the city's Sephardic Jewish community, who arrived in large numbers after their expulsion from Spain in 1492 and were welcomed by the Ottoman sultans.
Its most striking feature is the bimah, the central reading platform, built in the shape of a boat's prow — variously said to recall Noah's Ark or the ships that carried the exiles to safety. The synagogue remains in use by Istanbul's small surviving Jewish community. Visits must be arranged in advance through the Chief Rabbinate, and security is strict, but the interior rewards the effort.