Tour 3

Bytantian & Ottoman Relics

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the old city passing over the Galata Bridge and Golden Horn.

First, we will visit St Sophia, the most renowned Byzantine cathedral (Christian church) in Istanbul. It was a mosque during the Ottoman Empire . St.Sophia was declared a national monument and became a museum by the order of Ataturk on 24 October,1934.

 We will visit the Hippodrome, a former sports and political activities center in Constantinople time.

We will see the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius German Fountain and Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) built between 1609-1616 and famous for six minarettes. Lastly, we will visit the Grand Bazaar, the  oldest and largest covered market in Istanbul with 4000 shops selling  jewellery, fabrics, furs, leather, copper, rugs, antiques, etc.

Note: St.Sophia is closed on Mondays.
         Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.

Authentic Turkish Lunch Served

We will visit Topkapi Palace, the former magnificent palace of the Ottoman Sultans. This most fascinating monument, Topkapi Palace, became a museum in 1924.

This most fascinating monument  contains famous Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, and European  treasures, porcelain, fabrics, jewellery, calligraphy, crystal, silver, armory and arms and imperial costumes worn by the Sultans and their families.

We are continuing our journey visiting the Suleymaniye Mosque which is a   16th century mosque built for Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. It was built by the famous architect, Sinan. Considered the most magnificent mosque in Istanbul, it is famous for carved white marble and exquisite stained-glass windows.