ISTANBUL TOUR OPTIONS
Brief Overview
Welcome to Istanbul!
Old scholars called Istanbul "the mother of the world". Not too wrongly, because Istanbul is not only the largest, most beautiful and shiny city of Turkey, its atmosphere and its special style is also with no other metropolis to be compared. In the well received buildings still the gloss of the former Byzantine and Konstantinopolis is reflected. Istanbul pulls each visitor into its spell with the eastern smells, its intensive activity, multicolored mixture of humans of different nations, the eastern music and the fantastic silhouette.
Istanbul is a fascinating mixture from past and present, from old and new, from tradition and modern trends. Museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaars and the beauty of the landscape form an inexhaustible supply of objects of interest. If one drives in the dusk along the Bosphorus absorbed in thought, one understands, why this area attracts humans for thousands of years magically.
Istanbul; until 1930 Constantinople and in ancient times Byzantium or Byzantion, with a population of between around 12 million people, is the largest city of Turkey and by some counts one of the largest cities in Europe. Istanbul is literally incomparable. No other city bestrides two continents or has been an imperial capital for more than 1,500 years.
Founded by the Roman emperor Constantine on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium, and called Constantinople after him, it became the eastern capital of the Roman Empire and later the capital of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, it became part of and soon capital of the Ottoman Empire. Only on 28th March 1930, was the city officially renamed Istanbul.The old city is mainly located on the Bosphorus strait, which separates Europe from Asia and the Black Sea from the Marmara Sea. However, the modern city is much larger and covers both European and Asian sides of the Bosporus.
ITINERARIES
Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616 by Mehmet Aga, a student of the Great Sinan with 260 windows and named for the beautiful Iznik tiles which give the mosque its interior colour. Blue Mosque is one of the world’s great buildings with its six slender minarets gracing the outside, while the interior is a sea of blue. The original seventh minaret was later presented to the mosque at Mecca for diplomatic reasons.
The Blue Mosque, is an architectural masterpiece famed for its exquisite blue tiles and six elegant minarets. Built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet, it remains the centre of religious demonstrations in the Islamic religion. The nickname of “blue mosque” was given due to the numerous blue Iznik tiles in the interior, which is illuminated from the light of its windows. This is the only mosque in the world with six minarets and forms part of the city’s skyline. There are light shows held on summer evenings at the Eastern Side of the mosque.
Hippodrome was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in 203 A.D. The hippodrome was a stadium which served as a meeting place for the politicians, for chariot races, wrestling, boxing, and other athletic activities that took place.
Obelisk of Theodosius (The Egyptian obelisk) erected by Tutmosis III 1504-1450 B.C. before the temple of Karnak at Heliopolis. The Obelisk brought to Istanbul by Emperor Theodosius I was made of pink granite and its height is 17 meters. Originally, the Obelisk was 27 meters in height, 10 meters higher than it is today and weighed 800 tons.
Constantine Column was the landmark of the city because of its height of 32 meters. The column was erected in the fourth century by Constantine the Great. This monument was completely covered with bronze plates.
The German Fountain was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of visit to Istanbul by the German Emperor Wilhelm II. in 898. It was transported in its present site in 1900. The octagonal dome which houses the fountain is buttressed by eight marble columns. The dome's interior is covered with mosaic.
St. Sophia, the magnificent of all Byzantine churches and one of the world’s finest and largest architectural work of art. It is built by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodorus of Miletus between 532 and 537 AD under the rule of Emperor Justinian. It is now a museum where early Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy live side-by-side.
Hagia Sophia is the great cathedral that was once the former spiritual heart of the Byzantine Empire. Considered to be the 8th Wonder of the World, Hagia Sophia has an architecture which was way ahead of its time. The central dome has a half-dome at either side and seems to be suspended in space. In the 19th century, extensive work was done to make the church more resistant to earthquakes. The interior is rich with mosaic tiles and arranged in murals. This is one of Istanbul’s best know landmarks.
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Topkapi Palace which was the first Ottoman palace to be built (1466-1478) in the newly conquered capitaL of the Empire by Mehmet II. Located on the spot where the foundations of the city were first laid in ancient times by Megarian Chief Byzas in the 7th century BC, the palace boasts one of the most beautiful views of Istanbul, incorporating the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the two shores and the sea of Marmara. Unlike the European palaces, Topkapi is not a single monumental structure but a more organic complex made up of various kiosks, gardens and areas spread over the tip of the historical peninsula at the entry of the Golden Horn. Topkapi Palace served as the residence of Ottoman sultans for about 400 years, until Abdulmecid built the Dolmabahce Palace. In its hey-days, there were between 8-10 thousand people living in the palace, mostly being the Janisseri. The most attractive exhibition halls of the palace are: treasury, Islamic holly relics, costumes of the sultans, divan, harem, kitchens, Chinese porcelains and several kiosks such as the Baghdad, Revan, Sofa and Mecidiye
Grand Bazaar one of the largest and the oldest shopping malls in the world . It is a mini city that sprawls accross 65 streets
and 50 acres and includes some 4000 shops, tiny cafés, and restaurants – all surrounded by a wall, and entered through any of eleven gates. It offers a sea of choices that will tempt even the nonshoppers with its local curios and souvenirs: carpets,jewellery, icons, leather, meerschaum pipes, ceramics, bronze and copperware.
Dolmabahce Palace, which was built by Sultan Abdülmecid between 1843 and 1856 to exceed the European palaces in extravagance. After the republic was established in 1923, the palace served as Atatürk’s residence during his visits to Istanbul. He died in Dolmabahçe’s harem in 1938. All clocks in the palace still mark the hour of his death."Dolma" is filled or stuffed and "bahce" is garden in Turkish. The site of the Dolmabahce Palace was obtained by filling the small bay on the Bosporus giving the palace its name.
Underground cistern; Yerebatan Saray Sarniçi, also called the Sunken Palace Cistern because of its size (70 x 140 meters, or 2.4 acres), its capacity (80,000 cubic meters--over 21 million US gallons) and its 336 marble columns. It was used as the water reservoir for the Byzantine Great Palace during the reign of Justinian in 532. Inside the huge building, there is a few feet of water but wooden walkways have been built for visitors. There are 336 columns supporting a cathedral ceiling and some of them were taken from torn-down temples. The interior of the building has special dim lighting and classical music is played to create an eerie atmosphere. It is used as a gallery during the International Istanbul Arts Biennial held September-October.
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Suleymaniye Mosque, The Süleymaniye is the finest and most magnificent of the irnperial mosque complexes in Istanbul. It is a titting monument to its founder, Süleyman the Magnificent, and a masterwork of the greatest of Ottoman architects, incomparable Sinan. Building work lasted seven years. The complex of Süleymaniye was completed in 1557. The great building broods massively over the cİty and there one may admire the great dome and piercing minarets, set amid the smaller domes of subsidiary buildings cascading down the hill, the whole silhouetted against the waters of the Golden Horn.
Spice Bazaar (also known as the Egyptian Bazaar) (Turkish: Mısır Çarşısı) is one of the oldest bazaars in the city.Located in Eminönü, it is the second largestcovered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. It is so named because varies from the Orient were offered here in the past, and the alternative name, 'Egypian Bazaar', was so named because the spices came via Egypt. The Spice Bazaar was projected by the chief court architect Koca Kasım Ağa, but completed by architect Mustafa in 1660.
Eyup Mosque, The mosque of Eyüp is the holiest in Istanbul; indeed after Mecca and Jerusalem it is perhaps the third most sacred place of pilgrimage in the Islamic world. This is because it is the reputed burial place of Eyüp (Job) Ensari, the friend and standard- bearer of the Prophet Muhammad. Long after the Prophet's death Eyüp is said to have been among the Ieaders of the first Arab siege of Constantinople , 674 to 678, and to have been killed and buried somewhere outside the walls. .The Conqueror raised a religious complex on his miraculously discovered tomb in 1458,and here on their accession to the throne the Ottoman sultans were girded with the sword of Osman, a ceremony equivalent to coronation.
We will stop at Pierre Loti for cup of coffee or tea, Folk tradition claims that writer Pierre Loti (1850-1923) was a habitué of the tea-house which is nestled in the plane trees and cypresses at the pinnacle of Eyüp cemetery .The tea-house is still open today and excellent view can be enjoyed with a cup of its famous tea.
Chora Church was originally built outside the walls of Constantinople, to the south of the Golden Horn. The church's full name was the Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country. The last part of that name, Chora, referring to its location originally outside of the walls, became the shortened name of the church. The original church on this site was built in the early 5th century, and stood outside of the 4th century walls of Constantine the Great. The building ceased to be a functioning mosque. In 1958, it was opened to the public as a museum .
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Bulgarian Church( St. Stefan); This church belongs to the Bulgarian minority and is the most interesting church in Istanbul. The Bulgarian minority of the Ottoman Empire used to pray at the churches of the Fener Orthodox Patriarchy. The Church was brought to İstanbul via the river Tuna and reassembled in a very short time.
The Grand Rue de Pera of the 19th and early 20th centuries was the focus of Istanbul’s society life. The 1.2 km pedestrianised street is packed with an arbitrary scattering of music and bookstores, movie theaters and cultural centers, cafes, restaurants and bars, commercial banks and offices, shopping outlets and bazaars, consulates and embassies, churches, historical arcades and passageways. Beyoglu nights are for the clubbers and bar-goers, or for those just in search of good food.
'Flower Passage', built in the mid nineteenth century, which comes vibrantly alive every evening, resonating under the melodies of live Turkish music. Hosting a number of restaurants nestled cozily all along its cobbled lane, this historical arcade is a popular venue for eaters and drinkers. Balik Pazari or Fish Market, a wild passageway pinned with small fast-food eateries, fresh fish and vegetable market stalls, a sprinkling of other arbitrary shops and thronging with passers-by.
St. Antuan Church is situated in the middle of Istiklal Street, the longest pedestrian street of the city. It was built in 1906-1912 by Gulio Mangeri and used by Italian priests. The church is situated in the yard and the houses around are wonderful too.
Neve Shalom Synagogue. Neve Shalom Synagogue is located in the Galata district of Istanbul, Turkey.When the Jewish population in the old Pera and Galata districts (today encompassed by Beyoğlu district) increased in late 1930s, a Jewish primary school in the area was torn down in 1949 in order to build a new synagogue and the construction was completed in 1951. The architects were Elyo Ventura and Bernar Motola, young Turkish Jews. The inauguration with the presence of the Chief Rabbi of Turkey of the time, Rafael Saban, was on Sunday, March 25, 1951 (17 Veadar 5711, Jewish calendar).Neve Shalom is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul, open to service especially on Shabbats, high holidays, Bar mitzvahs, funerals and weddings.
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Galata Tower . Built by Jusinianus in the 6th century. Ottomans used this tower as a prison and a fire watch
tower. Today, the upper floor serves as a restaurant and a cafeteria. The tower is open to visitors for the best
panoramic views of the city: Beyoglu, the Istanbul Bosphorus, the Marmara Sea, Halic and the Old City. You can
see the one view of İstanbul from Galata Tower.
Ortakoy, where the Sephardic Jews were welcomed to Turkey by the Ottoman Sultan (nice cafes and small restaurants).
Ortakoy mosque that is situated at waterside of the Ortakoy Pier square, one of the most beautiful locations on the Bosphorus. Built by Sultan Abdülmecid in 1854. Nikogos Balyan designed it in neo-Baroque style. The wide, high windows let the ever-changing light reflections of the Bosphorus shine in the mosque. The quater is a lively gathering place of artists and street sellers with kiosks..
Beylerbeyi Palace , built between 1861-1865 by Sultan Abdulaziz located in the Asian side of Istanbul on the eastern shore of the Bosphorus. The palace was built in a luxurious and sumptuously neoclassic style that can be noticed as soon as one enters. Very illustrious and distinguished persons were guests of the Sultan, among them the French Emperor Eugenie, Nasruddin the Shah of Persia and the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia. Surrounding the palace there was an area of 160,000 square meters of comprising a hunting area, a zoo and a garden with different flora from all over the world.
The great Camlica Hill is the taller of the twin peak of Mount Bulgurlu, the highest point in the vicinity of Istanbul, 267 meters above sea level. It has a small teahouse in the midst of the pine grove which gives the peak its name. From here, there is an absolutely magnificent view, which makes it well worth the climb. In the morning when the sun is still easterly one has a panoramic sight of the whole city, the Bosphorus almost as far as the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea with the Princes Islands, and behind that, the great snow covered ridge of Uludag, the Bithynian Olympus. The Asian part of Istanbul is comparatively quiet being composed mainly of residential suburbs and not many sites of interest for the visitor.
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Bosphorous Cruise -We will take an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestıc strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia.From our cruise boat, we view the dramatıc sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest and the massive Rumeli Hisarı , a fortress built by Fatih the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul. Also noteworthy are the 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultan’s fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges.
Disembarkation and afterwards visit of Sadberk Hanim Museum, The Vehbi Koç Foundation Sadberk Hanım Museum occupies two separate buildings. The original building is a three-story (plus an attic) wooden mansion that is generally believed to have been built in the late 19th century and whose architecture was inspired by European vernacular traditions. The building, constructed of wood and lathe-and-plaster on a masonry foundation, was known as the "Azeryan Yalısı" The total exhibition space is 625 square meters. All the exhibition areas are sealed off from daylight and the display cases are illuminated in keeping with modern museum techniques.
Princes’ Islands Consisting of 9 islands (Kinali, Burgaz, Kasik, Sivri, Yassi, Heybeli, Buyuk Ada, Sedef and Marti) near Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara.The islands which are free of cars, are famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation and ornate Ottoman houses and have many beautiful wooden houses, have a resort atmosphere and offer peace and quiet in a natural environment. Walks or tours with horse-carriages known as the phaeton through the streets of the islands, restaurants or cafes in this peaceful atmosphere are among the simple joys to be found on these islands.
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Aya Yorgi Church after a tour of the island with Phaetons (Horse Carriages) a visit 1,000-year-old Aya Yorgi Monastery and Church (Agios Georgios) located at the top of the highest hill with stunning views over the archipelago.
On the way back a short wine pause at The Maiden`s Tower which is one of the romantic symbols of Istanbul, a spot from which to admire the sea, sky and silhouette of Istanbul. The tower is located on a stone pile, at an arrow shooting distance from the Asian coast, at the intersection point of Asia and Europe. It is one of the unique structures throughout the world. As well as featuring in many postcards, it was the setting for the hideout of the villainous Elektra in the James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough". This tower, which dates back to 2500 years ago, had a history identical to Istanbul's, being an eyewitness to whatever the city has encountered. Its history started in the antiquity, and it existed throughout the Greek times to Byzantine Empire, and from Ottoman Empire until the present.
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in the palace of İbrahim Pasha, grand vezir to Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, houses exhibits from many eras, but is most famous for its collection of Ottoman carpets. The Palace of Ibrahim Pasa (16th century), situated on the west side of Sultan Ahmet Square, now functions as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.Built in 1524, it was once the residence of Ibrahim Pasa who was the Grand Vizier to Süleyman the Magnificent. It contains over 40,000 items and some date back to the 17th century. Included in the collection are textiles, metalwork, calligraphy and woodwork. The feature of this museum is the carpet display that has some exhibits dating back to the 13th century.
Hagia Eirene The old patriarchal church stood within the same enclosure and shared the fate of Hagia Sophia. Even in our days its size is impressive. The surviving monument is assignable to the age of Justinian.
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Istanbul Archeology Museums, which were established as Müze-i Humayun (Empire Museum) by the famous artist and museum director Osman Hamdi Bey at the end of the 19th century, were opened to public on June 13, 1891. Besides its importance as the “first Turkish museum”, it has an importance and specialty being one of the museum buildings that are constructed as a Museum in the World. Today, it still protects its outstanding place in the World’s biggest museums with its works more than a million belonging to various cultures. In the museum collections, there are rich and very important works of art belonging to various civilizations from the regions from Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to Arab Peninsula and Afghanistan that were in the borders of the Ottoman Empire.
The Hamam Experience: The tradition of the Turkish bath extends far back, to a time before Turks had reached Anatolia. When the Turks arrived in Anatolia, they brought with them one bathing tradition, and were confronted with another, that of Romans and Byzantines, with certain local variants. The traditions merged, and with the addition of the Moslem concern for cleanliness and its concomitant respect for the uses of water, there arose an entirely new concept, that of the Turkish Bath. In time it became an institution, with its system of ineradicable customs.
Istanbul Naval Museum is the most comprehensive museum of its kind in Turkey. With its extraordinarily rich and varied collection, numbering some 20,000 pieces, it is among the major museums of the world. The Naval Museum operates under the Commander of the Navy and was the first military museum founded in Turkey.
The Military Museum-The museum holds striking historical treasures such as the chain which the Byzantines stretched across the mouth of the Golden Horn to keep out the Sultan's navy in 1453. The Sultan's sumptuous sayeban or "pavilion," encrusted with a fortune in jewels, is an open-sided "tent" in which he sat to receive foreign emissaries.The tablhane (mehterhane) was the name of the military band during the time of the Ottoman Empire, and served as one of the symbols of the sultanship that had been passed to the Ottomans by the Seljuks.
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The Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Pasa Camii) in Istanbul's Eminönü district by the Golden Horn, is among the city's architectural gems—yet seldom visited by foreign visitors. Although small, it is beautifully proportioned (as you can see in the photo to the right), and the interior is covered in some of the most exquisite Iznik faience (colored tiles) ever produced. The tiles, made at the height of Iznik's supremacy, have a good deal of the famous red color that was the envy of other tilemakers (blue, yellow, white and green were easy colors to produce, but red was extraordinarily difficult.)
The Istanbul Modern Art Museum is located in an 8,000m2 warehouse on the port of Karaköy and was opened in December 2004. The museum was founded by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. The Eczacibasi Group provided the first investment and project management finance, alongside the core collection. The museum hosts important works of art from the collections of Dr. Nejat F. Ezcacbaşı Foundation Collection, Istanbul Modern Art Museum Collection, Oya-Bülent Eczacıbaşı, MSU Fine Arts Faculty, Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum and Türkiye Iş Bank. The museum will enable us to view distinguished works of international art with the participation of Deutsche Bank Collection and Berlin Guggenheim.
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