Details, prices and bookings come from the operator (coda-tours.com). Check with them before you go.
8 days/7 nights in world-class 5-star accommodations. Unpack the exquisite layers of history, architecture and culture that combine to create Modern Istanbul: from its days as Constantinople, as Ottoman Turkey, as Sinan’s Istanbul and more.
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Welcome to Istanbul! You will be met by our staff and transferred to the The Celine Hotel for check in – a beautifully renovated `18th Century mansion on a tranquil, Old Istanbul street, just steps away from major attractions such as the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. Located in Istanbul’s historic district, this grand hotel is noted for its courteous and friendly staff, 24-hour concierge services, air-conditioned rooms with mini-bars, a bar/lounge, a coffee shop/café, and free WiFi in public areas. Nestled among fine shops and restaurants, “The Celine” offers luxurious accommodations with traditional Turkish hospitality.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy an introductory lecture on the history of Istanbul, before setting out to discover its many wonderful sites. We begin the day with a private cruise on the Bosphorus, the 32 km (20-mile)-long north-south strait that joins the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea, and separates the continents of Europe and Asia. After a leisurely tour sailing the Bosphorous, disembark in Sariyer, noted for its many large and luxurious 18th and 19th Century villas, its beautiful coastline and the lush forests beyond.
After breakfast, we begin our tour of historically rich Istanbul. The “Byzantine Era” was born with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Century AD, then prospered for an additional 1,000 years. The now re-named capital (“Bysantium” to “Constantinople”) became the most important and richest city in Europe/Asia, and was noted for its great art and architecture. Noteworthy attractions are: The Hippodrome, a circus/sporting arena used expressly for chariot racing, the 6th-century Haghia Sofia (“Holy Wisdom”) – with its stunning arches, domes and inlaid tiles, and The Basilica Cistern built in 532AD, one of the largest of many colonnaded cisterns lying beneath Istanbul.
After breakfast in the hotel, a guest lecturer will give a talk on the Ottoman Empire and the Topkapi Palace. From its sight on a high promontory, with commanding views of the countryside, the city and The Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace, commissioned in 1459 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople, is one of the most exotic splendors of Old and New
After breakfast we will see the wonders of Mimar Sinan’s Istanbul. Mimar Sinan (“…the greatest architect of classical Ottoman architecture.”), is best known for his design and execution (1550-1558) of The Suleymaniye Mosque, one of the largest and best known sights in Istanbul, and, on a smaller scale, The Şehzade Mosque (the “Prince’s Mosque”), commissioned in the 16th-century by Suelyman the Magnificent as a memorial to his son. Both are excellent examples of the inlaid “Iznik” tile work, bas- reliefs, arched domes and vaulted interiors. The Mihrimah (“The Sun and the Moon”) Mosque, built for Suelyman’s beautiful daughter, Princess Mihrimah, purported to be secretly loved by Sinan, is the site of one of his most famous domes, with more stained glass windows installed than any architect had ever dared use before – combined with immense arches, inlaid tiles, and flowing calligraphy, it is one of the most impressive of his designs.
Today, after breakfast in the hotel, we will discover Pera, a residential/business area and home to many historic and cultural sights. There are beautiful old houses and building, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, a colorful atmosphere and a vibrant night life, all taking place on the pedestrian mall of Istikal Caddesi (“Independence Avenue”), Galatasky Square, and The Cicek Passage (“Flower Passage” ) in the neighborhood of “Bohemian” Beyoglu. End our visit at Taksim Square, considered the heart of modern Istanbul. We will then take Istanbul’s “Tunel” (the world’s second-oldest subway line after London’s Underground) to Nişantasi, famed for its trendy shops and stores, cafes and restaurants frequented by the city’s “trendy” set.
Breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to the USA.
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