Discovering Istanbul
Without Visual Borders
This itinerary will lead us to explore the wonders and lesser-known places of Istanbul which represents the main industrial, financial and cultural center of Turkey as well as the sixth most populous municipal center in the world. During this four-day itinerary, we will touch the symbolic monuments of the city, recognized worldwide and UNESCO heritage, we will in fact visit the church of Hagia Sophia, a church that has been deconsecrated for more than 80 years, (today a museum), the unique Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Furthermore, to immerse yourself in the culture and life of this megalopolis belonging to both the European and Asian continents, you will visit the Spice Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops where you can venture into the thousands and more sensations that the Bazaar offers, including fabrics, food and personal care products and it will certainly stimulate all the other senses, including touch, hearing and smell. We will explore the most hidden, fascinating and less known sites of Istanbul, in fact we will go to the Chora Museum, a church located in the western district of Istanbul, called Edirnekapı. In the 16th century, the church was transformed into a mosque by the Ottoman Turks, and became a state museum in 1958. The interior is decorated with mosaics and frescoes, considered among the highest expressions of Byzantine art. Finally, do not miss the exclusive cruise on the Bosphorus, the river that cuts the city in half.
Free individual departures at least 2 participants
Departure for Istanbul from the major Italian airports. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the Italian speaking tourist assistant who will facilitate the handling of customs formalities, baggage claim and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at the guest's disposal, dinner and overnight stay.
After having breakfast ,full day dedicated to visiting the city:
Hagia Sophia is one of the main monuments of Istanbul. It is located in the Fatih district, in the Sultanahmet mahalla. Dedicated to Sophia (the wisdom of God), from 537 to 1453 the building was an Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, with the exception of a short period between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted by the Crusaders into a Catholic rite Roman cathedral under the Latin Empire of Constantinople. It then became an Ottoman mosque in 1453 and remained so until 1931. It was then deconsecrated in 1935 and became a museum.
We will then move to a local restaurant to refresh ourselves and taste the typical dishes of Istanbul. In the afternoon, the journey continues with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered bazaars in the world, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, where we will get lost among the thousand and more shops and among flavors and smells typical of an Egyptian bazaar.
Ending the visit to the Grand Bazaar, we will approach the hotel for dinner and overnight.
After having breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to one of the most suggestive and least known districts of Istanbul, a UNESCO heritage site, located in the western district of Istanbul, called Edirnekapı. Here we will visit the Chora Museum considered one of the most important examples of sacred Byzantine architecture still existing. Inside there are wonderful mosaics among which there are those that tell the life of the Virgin Mary in chronological order, but the recurring theme of the mosaics is the Incarnation and Salvation, also in the funeral chapel the iconographic motif is centered on the Resurrection.
At the end of the visit, we will move to a local restaurant. After lunch, we could live the fantastic experience of the Bosphorus cruise where the river divides the city of Istanbul in half and then the European and Asian sides.
We will get off the ship and approach the Spice bazaar: the second largest covered bazaar in Istanbul, its construction was made possible thanks to the proceeds from the taxes of Egypt, when the country was a province of the Ottoman Empire. Its original commercial destination was precisely the sale of spices and aromatic herbs, however over time, clothing and jewelry stores were also opened, as well as local cuisine. The bazaar has just over 80 shops, but from here you can access countless alleys and narrow streets which in turn lead to an infinite number of small shops, kiosks and stalls. Here we will be guided by the other senses, smelling, touching, tasting flavors that will never forget.
At the end of the visit to the spice bazaar, after purchasing some souvenirs, we will approach the hotel for a well-deserved farewell dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel. Check-out and transfer to Istanbul Airport in due time for the return flight to Italy.
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Double |
|---|---|
| From 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 | € 890 |
Notes
(B / L / D): B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = Dinner
Hotel proposed or similar:
ENTRY VISA:
An entry visa is not required to participate in this trip. To entry into the country, a passport with a minimum validity of six months and at least one free page for affixing entry / exit stamps or an identity card valid for expatriation in conditions of perfect integrity and with a minimum validity of 5 months.
CHECK-IN and CHECK-OUT:
Please note that check-in in hotels is scheduled from 2:00 p.m. onwards; while check-out must be done by 12:00 a.m. unless otherwise indicated on site.
The itinerary could be modified according to the operation of internal flights.
Departures shared on fixed dates, minimum 2 participants.
The tariff includes
The tariff does not include
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
from € 950 - Excluding flights
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