Istanbul with 7 Overnights
DAY 1: ARRIVAL ISTANBUL
On arrival Istanbul our transfer team will pick you up at Ataturk airport
and transfer you to the hotel, giving information about tours. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
We will discover the highlights of the ancient Hippodrome: Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and others. Continue the tour with a visit to Hagia Sophia, originally built as a church by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and used as a mosque during the Ottoman era until 1935 (today it's a museum encompassing both Christianity and Islam).Then you will visit the Kariye Museum (former Saint Savior in Chora church) and admire its golden mosaics. Afterwards we will visit the Basilica Cistern, also called the Yerebatan Sarayi or Yerebatan Sarnici, which is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that still lie beneath the city of Istanbul.
DAY 3: ISTANBUL - BURSA
We will drive to the lovely city of Bursa the first capital of the Ottomans between 1326 and 1364. There we will visit the Green Mosque famous for its interior tile decorations in brilliant shades of turquoise, green and blue, the Green Mausoleum of Sultan Mehmet I, the Tombs of Osman and his son Orhan, who are the founders of the Ottoman Dynasty finally and the Silk Bazaar. The Great Ulu Camii Mosque, with its twenty domes, remains the religious and social center of Bursa. Then drive back to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 4: ISTANBUL
We will drive to visit Süleymaniye Mosque which is without question one of the greatest
works of architect, Sinan. Begun in 1550, the mosque was completed in 1557, with two more years required in order to finish the entire complex. Next we will visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its beautiful blue tiles decorating the interior walls. Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years, with its fabulous collections of jewels and other artifacts is another of todays excursions.
DAY 5: ISTANBUL
First in the morning we will see the Dolmabahce Palace: this area was originally a bay where the navy anchored in the early periods when the Ottomans conquered Istanbul. Later on the beautiful scenery of the site attracted Sultans, who filled the bay and erected summerpalaces over it. Those summer palaces where replaced in the 19.th century by the Dolmabahce Palace After lunch we enjoy a visit to Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul, with a panoramic view of the city. We will also take a short drive to the 19th Century summer palace of the Sultans at the Bosphorus village of Beylerbeyi.
DAY 6: ISTANBUL
Today we will see Turkish carpets in one of the carpet production places of Istanbul. This informative demonstration will give you an idea about the worldwide known Turkish rugs.
Then you will make a tour to the Eyüp area, to visit the Eyup Mosque and Pierre Loti, which has a lovely panorama, enjoying the unique view on the Golden Horn while sipping an "Apple" or "Black Turkish" tea.. Then we visit Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Patriarchy Church in Fener. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy is located in the yard of this church.
DAY 7: ISTANBUL
In the morning we will walk to the Covered Bazaar, a labyrinth of streets filled with all sorts of tempting items to purchase: harem bracelets, colorful carpets, hand-painted ceramics, and more (it's said that there are 3,000 shops!) and then we visit the Spice Bazaar which is the second largest covered bazaar in Istanbul
DAY 8: DEPARTURE
All too soon it is time to bid this magical land gule gule (goodbye) as you are transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
The price includes
* International flights
* Taxes and service charges for the flights
* Transfers mentioned in the itinerary
* All transportation by airconditioned vehicle
* Professional english speaking guide
* Welcomecocktail
* All entrance fees
* 7 nights accommodation with breakfast & dinner
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