ISTANBUL TOURS (3 DAYS) |
DAY 1 Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Grand Covered Bazaar. A full day tour at the old city which has been the throne of power of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires; practically the city that ruled the world for nearly 15 centuries. We start our tour with Sultanahmet Square, which was known as Hippodrome. Some of the important monuments of the Hippodrome are; Egyptian Obelisk dating back to 16th century B.C., Serpentine Column from 5th century B.C., and the Stone Obelisk erected in 10th century A.D. Blue mosque, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the classical period of Ottomans one of the best examples of classical Turkish art.
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 : Bosporus, by Rossino |
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After the marvelous underground cistern we visit the Topkapı Palace built in the 15.century by Sultan Mehmet the Conjurer, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc. The day ends in the Grand Bazaar, the most attractive shopping center in the world with 4000 shops.
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: Grand Bazaar by Herry Lawford |
 : Grand Bazaar by J.E. Field |
DAY 2 Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Sariyer, Suleymaniye Mosque, Teahouse of Pierre Loti.
Visit to the Spice Bazaar with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs, also known as Egyptian Bazaar. Then to the pier for a Bosporus cruise on a public ferry. Starting the trip from the Golden Horn and sailing through the waterway separating the two continents, Asia and Europe- with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, old wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. We get on land in Sariyer district which has the old and modern taste together. Thereafter we visit Suleymaniye Mosque, dedicated to Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, built by the famous architect, Sinan. Then a drive to Golden Horn for a short break at the Café known as the Pierre Loti, commands a superb view of the Golden Horn.
: Hagia Sophia, by Bruno Girin |
 : Relief at the Archeological Museum by Bora Öztürk |
DAY 3 St Sophia, Istanbul Archeology Museum, Chora Museum. St Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian. The Church was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century and than into a museum after the Republic. Then we visit the Istanbul Archeology Museum, besides its importance as the first Turkish museum, it remains one of the world's largest museums with over one million works. Opened to the public in 1891, it houses a collection of Greek, Roman and Byzantine artifacts. Chora Church (Kariye Camii in Turkish) is the most interesting Byzantine church after Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The importance of the church does not come from the building itself, the frescoes and the mosaics are superb and reflect the magnificent heritage of Byzantine Art. |
:Hagia Sophia, by Bruno Girin |
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Istanbul Holiday Apartment Istanbul Holiday Apartment is a fully furnished character flat located in central Istanbul, at the heart of Beyoglu, Taksim. You will enjoy the vibrant Istanbul nightlife while enjoying the fantastic architectural features of this unique character apartment, which is at the convenient first floor of an award-winning listed grade II building. |
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