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Istanbul Shore Excursion 7
offered by supplier M17846 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 1
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 20
people
Destination(s):
Turkey
Specialty Categories:
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
Season: April - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 60 Euro (EUR)
Maximum Per Person Price: 99 Euro (EUR)
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Chora Museum – Kariye (Chora) Museum originally formed the center of a byzantine monastery complex. Only the church section, which was dedicated to Jesus Christ the Saviour, has survived. After the arrival of the Turks in Istanbul, this building, like the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. In 1948 it was made a museum leaving no Islamic element in the building except the 19C minaret outside in the corner.
Suleymaniye Mosque - Suleymaniye, rather than a mosque, is an important historical symbol for the Turks. Like other works of the time, Suleymaniye is not only a mosque but huge complex. It is a work which typifies the Ottoman Empire at its peak. Its named, Suleymaniye, derives from the builder`s name, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman (lawgiver) Sultan Suleyman I the magnificent. The architect was the greatest of Ottoman architects, the incomparable Sinan.
Hippodrome - The large, 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.
Blue Mosque – Six graceful minarets adorn the elegant mosque, one of the city’s most recognized landmarks. The superb interior is decorated with more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. St. Sophia – The Emperor Justinian built St. Sophia when Istanbul was Constantinople. This magnificent example of Byzantine architecture boasts a massive done, a lengthy nave, and an interior decorated with marble, precious stones, and pillars from Ephesus.
Topkapi Palace Museum – A huge walled complex hugging the Bosporus, the former palace of the Ottoman sultans is now a museum with an extraordinary collection of Chinese porcelain, art, artifacts, and jewels including the Topkapi Diamond. The Harem, home of the sultan and his primary living quarters, offers exceptional insight into the sultan's lifestyles.
Egyptian Bazaar - It was built in 1664 as a part of the Yeni Cami complex which is located next to it. Misir in Turkish means Egypt and it is called the Egyptian Bazaar because the shopkeepers used to sell spices and herbs which were brought from or through Egypt. During the Ottoman period it was known as a place where shops sold only spices.
Today there are only a few spice and herb specialists. The rest sell dried fruit, borek, basket work, jewelry, haberdashery, drapery and suchlike. The bazaar has an "L" shape with six gates. Similar to the Grand Bazaar, it is open on weekdays and only half a day on Saturdays.
Grand Bazaar - Today, shop selling the same kind of merchandise tend to be congregated in their own street or in hans as this was originally the Ottoman system. In addition to two bedestens there are also 13 hans in the grand bazaar. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for tourist and has consequently become a very popular place for foreign visitors.
Note: It is open during working hours on week days,closing earlier on Saturdays, while on Sundays and religious holidays it is closed. Closed: Hagia Sophia on Monday, Topkapi Palace on Tuesday, Grand Covered Bazaar on Sunday. Duration: 8 hours.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices Includes:
- Luxury transportation
- Expert tour guide
- Museum fees and all taxes
Also see tour packages in:
Middle East
Turkey
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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