Departing from the port, you will begin with a drive over
the Golden Horn towards the Old City. Your first stop will
be the ancient Hippodrome. For over 1,000 years this was the
center of Byzantium life. Afterwards, for another 400 years,
it was the social center of the Ottoman Empire. The
Hippodrome was the scene of countless political and military
dramas, including the famous chariot races.
Hagia Sophia Museum, originating as a church in 360 AD under
Constantine, Hagia Sophia was converted into a Mosque when
the city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453 by Sultan
Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Today, the Museum is considered as the
most important Byzantine monument in the world.
The Blue Mosque, known for its architectural harmony,
proportion and elegance, is unique as it is the only
original mosque in the world with six minarets. Breathtaking
stained-glass windows and graceful arabesques decorate this
mighty structure.
The Turkish Islamic Museum of Arts is located on the west
side of Hippodrome, now exhibits a variety of items from
antique kilims, manuscripts, calligraphy, wood, ironwork,
and stone sculpture, stained glass and folk art as well as
the Ethnological collection, devoted mainly to the nomads of
Anatolia. The Museum also hosts the most valuable ancient
Turkish carpets namely the original Usak and Selcuk Carpet
collections.
The highlight of the tour will be Topkapi Palace (Harem
section excluded). Topkapi Palace is a great walled complex
hugging the shores of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn and it
was once the residence of Ottoman Sultans. Mehmet II built
the palace-city, home for three centuries of Sultans, in the
mid-1400s as a summer palace. Topkapi was enlarged by
Suleiman the Magnificent into the Sultan's principal
residence and with the successive Sultans grew into a great
complex of buildings set in lovely gardens. A series of
courtyards connect various buildings which now house an
astonishing collection of Chinese porcelain, treasures, the
celebrated Topkapi Diamond and much more.
After a short drive you will reach to Chora Museum, located
just beyond the ancient city walls. The Chora Museum, built
from 1077 through 1081 by Maria Dukaina, the mother-in-law
of Emperor Alexius Comnenus, has had many restorations and
refurbishments during its long history. Converted into a
Mosque in 1500 by the Ottomans, the frescoes and mosaics
were cleaned and preserved by the Byzantine Institute of
America between 1945 through 1959. The mosaics and frescoes
depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Dating
from the early 14th century, they are beautiful examples of
the Byzantine Renaissance.
The Grand Bazaar is one of the most colorful sites of
Istanbul. This Bazaar is composed of two sections namely the
covered part and the modern part. The covered part is a
whole quarter on its own, surrounded by a wall and entered
through eleven gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one
of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades
such as carpets, jewellery, leather goods, silver; varieties
of souvenirs, textile, antiques, and home textile are
segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You will
have the chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the
covered part for a brief period of time. You will also have
the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the
Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and reliable
shopping to your disposal.
Be ready to treat yourself in the Turkish Bath! The Turkish
Bath is the Middle Eastern variant of a steam bath, which
can be categorized as a wet relative of the sauna. They have
played an important role in cultures of the Middle-East,
serving as places of social gathering, ritual cleansing, and
as architectural structures, institutions, and (later)
elements with special customs attached to them. Europeans
learned about the Hamam via contacts with the Ottomans,
hence the "Turkish" part of the name. Something not to miss
in a person's lifetime to treat oneself is certainly Turkish
Bath - Hamam! Specially decorated sultan's fruit platter and
Ottoman appetizers will finalize your experience while
resting at steam center.
Another fascinating attraction from the Byzantine period
that you will visit is the massive Underground Cistern, the
imperial water storage tank. More than 300 beautiful columns
of various designs support the cistern's vaulted brick roof.
Your tour will continue with a drive to the Spice Bazaar where
you will see and smell the exotic products of mystical
Istanbul. You will have free time to explore the bazaar upon
directions you will receive from your guide. Depart the
Spice Market and proceed to your next destination.
Board a private yacht for
a short ride on the Bosphorus Strait with your private
guide. Take in the city’s famous and beautiful landmarks
from the water as your guide recounts Istanbul’s colorful
history.
Whirling Dervishes Ceremony will be the highlight of your
tour. The Whirling Dervishes trace their origin to the 13th
century Ottoman Empire. The Dervishes known as Mevlevi Order
are Sufis, a spiritual offshoot of Islam. Sufis are known as
the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of
whirling as a form of zikr (remembrance of Allah). You will
witness rhythms of this spiritual concept, which survives
even today. While you are watching the ceremony, Dervish
snacks such as lucky sweets and traditional Ottoman drink,
"Sherbet" will be served.
Approx Duration: 7 hour(s) 45 minute(s) for each day
Current Price: Starting from
332 Adult (USD) for minimum 4 guests
Activity Type: Historical, Sightseeing, City Tours
Activity Level: Strenuous
Hippodrome
Hagia Sophia
Blue Mosque
Turkish Islamic Museum of Arts
Topkapi Palace
Chora Museum (Kariye Museum)
Grand Bazaar
Turkish Bath
Underground Cistern
Spice Bazaar
Bosphorus Strait onboard your private boat
Whirling Dervishes Ceremony
* Professional English-speaking experts to guide you through
your journey.
* Peace of mind in knowing that your excursions are
monitored by our staff.
* A staff of experienced, excursion specialists expertly
plans each tour and is dedicated to maximizing your time in
each port.
* Travel with premier, licensed and insured, best available, climate controlled luxury
transportation.
* In addition to our private departures, just like this tour, you may choose the
Executive Collection - customized, private tours with highly
personalized service.
*
Guests must be able to walk approximately 1-1.5 miles over
uneven and cobblestone surfaces, inclines and 40 to 65 steps
thus the guests must be cautious to watch their step
at all times in order to avoid injuries.
* Comfortable clothing, flat walking shoes, sun hat, sun
glasses and sun screen are strongly recommended.
* Please expect dense traffic conditions in Istanbul.
* The order of the sites visited may change to avoid the
crowds.
*
Temperatures can reach extreme highs during summer months;
we recommend that you drink a lot of water and use suitable
sun protection.
* The ground in the Turkish Bath is slippery. The Turkish
Bath is not recommended for guests with cardio and breathing
malfunctions.
* The program is organized to be completed in 2 days by far
the best way to fully experience this marvelous city. You
may also take any of these days as standalone tour according
to
your preference.
Book this Tour
Click here for reservation details. |
