Day 1: Istanbul
Meet at Istanbul port and start our tour with visit Blue Mosque: One of the most famous mosque, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style. The mosque has six minarets and 260 windows illuminating its vast main chamber, which is decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.Hippodrome: The building, open square was once the site of a Roman circus that rivaled the Colosseum and could seat a quarter of a million spectators. Monuments on the site include the Snake Column from Delphi and an Egyptian obelisk taken from the Temple of Karnak at Luxor.Hagia (St.) Sophia Museum: It is one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinianus, St.Sophia has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years; it is considered the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture; after having been the Patriarchal basilica of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror and in to a museum by Ataturk in 1935. (Closed on Mondays; will be replaced with Underground Cistern)Topkapi Palace: This extraordinary and secret palace was the residence of the Imperial Ottoman Sultans and the center of the Ottoman might for nearly 400 years. The building are a typical example of Ottoman architecture and the rooms exhibit rich collections of porcelains, robes, weapons, shields, armors, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts as well as Ottoman treasures and jewelry. (Harem sections is not included in the program and is due to extra entry) (Closed on Tuesdays; will be replaced with Underground Cistern)Grand Bazaar: The largest covered market in the world with more than 60 streets and 4.000 shops, where you may find in a authentic oriental atmosphere all kind of gifts, leather clothing, rugs and kilims, antiques, jewelery, hand-woven fabrics etc.It has got very different atmosphere.It is closed on Sundays and religious holidays.Underground Cistern: Built by Justinian after 532, the Basilica Cistern stored water for the Great Palace and nearby buildings. Lost to memory, it was rediscovered by PetrusGyllius, who came to Constantinople in search of Byzantine monuments. Gyllius, who noticed that the local people were lowering buckets through holes in the floors of their houses to retrieve water, found an entrance and thus put this mysterious subterranean architectural surprise back on the map. A mesmerizing attraction, sure to please!
