General
BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS
(Walking Tour)
HIPPODROME, The center of sport activities with its four monuments; The GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF WILHELM II, Egyptian Obelisk, SERPENTINE COLUMN and the COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE
BLUE MOSQUE The most famous mosque of Istanbul which is known as the BLUE MOSQUE as well because of its beautiful blue Iznik tiles. (Visit is not possible on Friday due to quite limited access because of the Friday Prayer)
HAGIA SOPHIA This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great, in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. (Hagia Sophia closed on Monday, replaced with Underground Cistern)
GRAND BAZAAR(COVERED MARKET) In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4000 shops with each trade having its own area; the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brasware and trays, water ewers, onyxware and meerschaum pipers. (Grand Bazaar closed on Sunday)
LUNCH (Drinks are extra)
SULTANS TOMBS there are five tombs of Ottoman Sultans within the graveyard at St. Sophia. The ceramic panels are the most beautiful examples of the 16th century with purple, green, blue, and red flower motives. Prince robes and a small piece from the Kaaba covers are displayed on the sarcophaguses.(Sultans Tombs closed on Monday, replaced with Little Hagia Sophia Mosque)
TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries, housing an exquisite collection of precious gems, jewellery thrones of sultans, costumes worn by the sultans and their families; miniatures, the Holy Mantle; CHABER OF SACRED RELICS.
(Harem is not included in the program and visit is due to extra entrance fee.)
Also visioned during the tours
*AQUADUCT OF VALENS *OBELISK OF THEODOSUS *SERPENTINE COLUMN *GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF WILHELM II
CLOSED
Sultans Tombs closed on Monday / Replaced with Little Hagia Sophia Mosque
St. Sophia closed on Monday / Replaced with Underground Cistern
Blue Mosque closed on Friday due to