BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS – (Walking Tour) – Full Day Tour – Lunch Included

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.

The 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 Friday Prayer)

THE HAGIA SOPHIA GRAND MOSQUE 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. (Visit is not possible on Friday due to Friday Prayer)

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, replaced with Arasta Bazaar)

LUNCH (Drinks are extra)

HAGIA IRENE CHURCH Built during the same period (4th century) as its neighbour the Hagia
Sophia.The name Hagia Irene Church means ‘’Godly’’ or ‘’Holy Wisdom’’ in Greek. After the
conquest of Istanbul it was incorporated into the grounds of Topkapı Palace and like many other
churches was converted into a mosque. However there were no major changes made to the
building’s structure. (Hagia Irene Church closed on Tuesday)

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.
(Topkapı Palace closed on Tuesday)
(Harem is not included in the program and visit is due to extra entrance fee.)
Also visioned during the tours

*OBELISK OF THEODOSIUS *SERPENTINE COLUMN *GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF
WILHELM II