DESTINATION:
Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the great cities of the world, the ancient city of Constantinople, the Sublime Porte, and capital of the Byzantine Empire. From 330 to 1453 AD it was fabulously wealthy, with its hippodrome, palaces and churches becoming the stuff of legend. Chief among its monuments was the Haghia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, still standing today after 1500 years, one of the most enduring monuments of Christendom. Many other churches survive from this early history, and with their fine mosaics and grand domes they bring this period vividly to life. Istanbul was also the capital of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, and during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, outshone Constantinople, its predecessor, with its towering mosques and oriental bazaars.
Recommended duration – 5 nights/6 days
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
- HAGHIA SOPHIA – the Church of the Holy Wisdom, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest buildings in the world. Built by the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, circa AD535, it was transformed into a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453. Now a museum, it is awesome in size and contains beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics.
- BLUE MOSQUE – a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture and the only mosque in the world to boast six minarets. The Mosque was built from 1609 to 1616 under the orders of the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I. The glazed Iznik tiles, which cover the inside walls, have given this magnificent mosque its name.
- TOPKAPI PALACE MUSEUM – overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, this maze of buildings was the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The first courtyard with the Byzantine church of St Eirene is a magnificent, wooded garden, while the second courtyard, shaded by cypresses and plane trees, houses the palace kitchens, with an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain. The third courtyard was the Sultan’s private apartments. Although some of these displays may be temporarily closed, it may be possible to view the harem, the secluded quarters of the Sultans’ womenfolk, the Library of Sultan Ahmet III, an exhibition of robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the imperial Treasury, an exhibition of miniatures, and the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle, enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
- UNDERGROUND CISTERN – the vast columned cavern that was once the water source for the Grand Palace of the Byzantine Emperors.
- BEYLERBEYI PALACE – a summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, built of white marble by Sultan Abulaziz in the 19th century.
- CAMLICA HILL – one of the highest points in the city with a panoramic view of Istanbul.
- MOSQUE OF SULEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT – the most important and considered the most beautiful of all the imperial mosques in Istanbul. Erected on the crest of a hill between 1550 and 1557 by Sinan, Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife are both buried here. The mosque is conspicuous by its great size and has four minarets – one in each corner of the courtyard. The interior is also spectacular and the mihrab (prayer niche facing Mecca) and the mimber (pulpit) are finely carved in white marble, and there are magnificent stained-glass windows.
- CHURCH OF ST SAVIOUR in Chora (Kariye Camii) with the CHORA MUSEUM – a small Byzantine church renowned for its extraordinary frescoes and mosaics (datable 1315 – 1321), portraying the life and miracles of Christ. This is the most important and extensive series of Byzantine mosaics and paintings in the city, and also among the most significant in the world.
- ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM – housed in a neoclassical building and boasting an extensive collection of Hellenic, Hellenistic and Roman statuary and sarcophagi.
- DOLMABAHÇE PALACE – a former permanent residence of the Ottoman Sultans, the palace is built on reclaimed land on the waterfront and demonstrates a synthesis of the late Baroque and Rococo styles through its 228 rooms. The palace houses a good collection of European antiques and furniture and is famous for its vast chandeliers. The gardens stretch along the Bosphorus.
- SPICE MARKET – an exotic market which houses an astonishing array of spices, foodstuffs, and decorative items.
- GRAND BAZAAR – Istanbul’s world-famous shopping centre.
- PRIVATE BOAT CRUISE – cruise the Bosphorus, the stretch of water that separates Europe and Asia. It is a 20-mile long strait that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and is renowned for the Ottoman palaces that line its shores.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
- MOSQUE OF RUSTEM PASHA – an Ottoman mosque designed by Mimar Sinan (“Sinean the Architect”) for Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha. The mosque is famous for its exquisite Kutahya tiles, set in beautiful floral and geometric designs, which cover not only the façade of the porch but also the mihrab, minbar, walls, and columns.
- SADBERK HANIM MUSEUM – Turkey’s first private museum. The museum is housed in two charming wooden villas (yalis) and displays Turkish decorative arts and a fine archaeological collection.
- SABANCI MUSEUM – located in the Sabanci University at Emirgan and opened in 2002, the museum, also known as the ‘Equestrian Villa’ on account of the bronze horse at the entrance, houses a fine collection of antiquities, Islamic calligraphy, and Turkish art.
- KUMKAPI FISHERMAN VILLAGE – a pedestrian quarter teeming with seafood restaurants where gypsy musicians stroll around the tables making a lively atmosphere, and where local colour abounds.
- MOSAIC MUSEUM – displays mosaics from the byzantine period discovered during excavations by British architects in the mid-1900s at the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople. They unearthed a stunning mosaic pavement depicting hunting and mythological scenes, thought to be from the 5th century.