St . Sophia: The magnificent Byzantine Church, one of the finest architectural works in the world. It has been nominated as the 8th wonder of the world by many historians. Considered one of the world’s most beautiful buildings, the Hagia Sofia, which means Church of Holy Wisdom of God, is an important surviving example of Byzantine architecture.

Blue Mosque: One of the largest mosques in Istanbul dating from the 17th century is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.

Hippodrome: The former centre of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. During this visit you’ll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Wilhelm II.

Obelisk of Theodosius: This obelisk once graced the Karnak Great Temple of Amun (Amon) in ancient Thebes (now, Luxor). It was one of two erected at the south of the 7th Pylon of the Great Temple by Tuthmosis III. No one knows who ordered its removal from Karnak, or whether it was still standing when it was taken.

Serpent Column: An ancient column at the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul,
Turkey. It is an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally located in Delphi and later relocated to Constantinople by Constantine. The serpent heads of the 8–meter high column remained until the end of the 17th century.

Grand Bazaar: In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the non–shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather
and souvenirs.

Topkapi Palace: The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled, today it’s a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

Rustem Paşa Mosque: Masterpiece of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire, built in the name of Rustem Paşa who was grand vezir of Sultan Suleyman and son–in–law during the 16th century, might built rival of his imperial master, Suleymaniye Mosque, The Magnificent.

PRINCE’S ISLANDS: During the summer months the Princes’ Islands are popular destinations for day trips from Istanbul. As there is no traffic on the Islands, the only transport being horse and cart, they are incredibly peaceful compared with the city of Istanbul.

EGYPTIAN SPICE MARKET: A short visit to the famous oriental shopping area where spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits are sold.

BOSPHORUS CRUISE: An unforgettable excursion starts between two continents, Europe and Asia. The cruise takes you along the Bosphorus, past the European style palaces of The Ottomans, Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden kiosks from 19th century. Disembark in Sariyer a small village by the Bosphorus on the European side.

DOLMABA HÇE PALACE: The Dolmabahçe Palace became the main Palace of the Empire when it was built is a conglomeration of European architectural styles.

BOSPHORUS BRI DGE CAMLICA HILL: First stop will be the highest point of Istanbul which offers the possibility of taking the best pictures of the panoramic view.

TURKISH NIGHT CLUB: After a short drive, you will be taken to an exclusive night–club where you will taste the joy of the famous Turkish cuisine. Four course dinner including drinks will be served while the spectacular oriental show will be performed by well–known belly dancers, folk groups from various regions of Anatolia and Turkish singers.

Pick up at the hotel. Proceed to downtown Beyoglu & Pera and take a stroll down Istiklal Avenue to the Galata quarter, a Jewish neighborhood for centuries with many synagogues and bustling street life. Visit the Ashkenazi Synagogue, which serves the community of European Jews. Also visit the Neve Shalom Synagogue, the largest modern synagogue in the city center to a strong Jewish community. Later in the afternoon, we cross to the Western shore of the Golden Horn to take a stroll through the atmospheric old streets in the Jewish quarter of Balat, where many Jewish immigrants settled to help repopulate the city under Sultan Beyazit II. Today the Star of David can be seen on the facades of some buildings. Also in this colorful area, we visit the Ottoman Baroque style Ahrida Synagogue, with beautiful furnishings, including the bema (pulpit) shaped like the prow of a ship.

GRAND MOSQUE: The “Grand Mosque” is located in the commercial centre of town, next to the covered bazaar and silk manufacturers’ bazaar (Koza Han). It is worth the visit with its water fountain inside and its pulpit which is considered to be a masterpiece on woodworking.

GREEN MAUSOLEUM: Facing the Green Mosque in Bursa, rather higher up, is the Green Mausoleum (Yesil Türbe) of Mehmet I, a domed octagonal building clad externally with the green tiles with which parts of the interior walls are still faced. The missing tiles have been replaced with modern reproductions.

Green Mosque: The mosque for the Complex of Mehmet I, known as Yesil (Green) Mosque, was built by architect Haci Ivaz Pasa. Lunch of the famous “Kebap”. Iskender (or Bursa) Kebap is named for the chef who created the dish and the city of Bursa where he created it. As the story goes, Mehmetoglu Iskender Efendi created the first plate of Iskender kebap in Bursa in 1867.

CABLE –CAR TO MOUNT OLYMPUS : (if weather permits)

Meet at Izmir Airport or Hotel in Izmir, and then proceed for a full day tour to Ephesus. Visit the Shrine of Virgin Mary where she spent her last days. Proceed to Ephesus and see the spectacular ruins from the period of St. Paul, some of which are recently excavated. See Odeon, Bouleterion, Fountains, Temples, Bothel, Library, Great Theatre and Gymnasium, Double Church, Stadium. After lunch, visit St. John Basilica and his tomb, Temple of Diana (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world).

Day 1 – Fly from Istanbul Airport to Kayseri Airport. Upon arrival, visit the Goreme Valley with its rock–cut churches, the village of Zelve with its curious rock–hewn architecture, the citadel of Uchisar and the village of Avanos with its pottery workshops.

Day 2 – Cappadocia. Full day Cappadocia tour, visit the underground city of Derinkuyu, the Ihlara Valley and the typical villages of Belisurma and Selime. Lunch included. Return to the hotel late afternoon.

Day 3 – Breakfast at the hotel and return flight back to Istanbul or Izmir.

Hippodrome Square

Originally constructed by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus back in 203 BC, the Hippodrome was the center of secular life in Byzantium. Enlarged into a vast stadium to enable to seat 100,000 spectators by Emperor Constantine, among all the other entertainment activities the Hippodrome also the four-horsed chariots raced around beneath the gaze of the Byzantine emperors. The monuments of spina (central line), which survived until our days, are the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and Constantine’s Column.

Blue Mosque

Sultanahmet Mosque, also called The Blue Mosque, was designed and built in the early 17th century and since then became the famous silhouette of Istanbul with its six minarets. But it owes its name to the glazed earthenware Iznik tiles (21,043 of them) that face the lower walls of the mosque and those of the balcony. The Blue Mosque is still one of the symbols of Istanbul.
 

Hagia Sophia

Originally a church converted into a mosque and now a museum, this superb building wins admiration for the splendor of its Byzantine artwork. First by Emperor Constantine, then re-built by Emperor Justinianus in the 6th century, the Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque in the 15th century after the city was captured by the Ottomans who added its minarets and mausoleums. Today this magnificent example of architecture rises with dignity in the Old City. Besides the dome, which wins admiration by its height and size, the mosaics and frescoes decorating the walls are unique examples of Byzantine art.

Underground Cistern

Undoubtedly the most surprising monument from the Justinian era. In 532 the emperor ordered that columns (336 of them), lying unused from dilapidated temples, to be used to hold up the roof of this underground cistern with a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters. During Ottoman times weavers have used it for a while. Its name came from a law school that was housed in a basilica nearby. In 1980’s the water has been drained, electric lights are installed and now strain of Beethoven symphonies echo against the dark walls.

GRAND BAZAAR

Shopping experience of a lifetime: The construction of this unique bazaar started in the 15th century, right after the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmet, and galleries were added during the years to form today's labyrinth of more than 4000 shops, grouped in streets according to the trade. Silver, jeweler, leather goods, carpets, antiques, copper and even furniture.

TOPKAPI PALACE

In 1465, Sultan Mehmet, The Conqueror of Istanbul, ordered the construction of the first palace; his successors added new pavilions, thus spreading the palace to a total area of 70,000 sqm. The Ottoman Sultans lived in and reined the empire from this palace until the 19th century. Today a museum, the kitchens house 12,000 pieces of porcelain including a rare Chinese porcelain collection. The treasury section displays one of the richest selections of jewels and precious stones and gold objects. The visit through the palace also leads to the collection of clocks, the relics of the prophet and the Baghdad kiosk, which is a beautiful sample of Ottoman interior.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Osman Hamdi Bey started the museum in 1891, the first Turkish archaeologist of international reputation. The rich collection comprises Greek, Roman, prehistoric sculptures, sarcophagi, model temples, jewels, coins.... from Turkey and neighbor countries. The highlight of the visit is the so-called Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great.

TURKISH ISLAMIC ART MUSEUM

The Palace of Ibrahim Pasa, the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire was completed in 1524. Ibrahim was appointed grand Vezir and the following year he married Suleyman's sister, Hatice. Unlike many palaces of the period, it was constricted in stone. The palace was restored 1983. Considered to be one of the most important examples of Ottoman civil architecture, it is now a museum of Turkish and Islamic art, exhibiting a collection of 40.000 objects including fine oriental rugs, Seljuk and Ottoman woodcarvings, Turkish folk life clothing, rug and kilim looms, showing the weaving and dying techniques. The museum has a conference room and a Turkish coffee house serving coffee or tea.

BEYLERBEYI PALACE

Located on the Asian shores of the Bosphorus, the palace is considered to be the most beautiful palaces of the 19th century. It has been entirely made of marble and is known for its beautiful works of art, such as Oriental and European furniture, pictures and porcelains. In fact the original palace was burnt down and the one we see today was built in 1865 by Sultan Abdülaziz. The wood paneling in one of the rooms was done by the Sultan himself, an accomplished carpentry fanatic.

CHORA MUSEUM

The building in its present form was completed in the 11th century and adorned with beautiful mosaics and frescoes. The mosaics follow an iconographic order and have a rare quality. When in the 15th century the church was converted to a mosque after the conquest by the Ottomans, these were covered by whitewash; ironically enough, the Islam faith, which forbids representation of human figures, preserved them until our century. After becoming a museum in 1950 it has been restored and cleaned by the Byzantine Institute of the U.S.A., the mosaics were revealed in their original brightness.

SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE

One of the masterpieces by the great architect Sinan was built in the 16th century for Sultan Süleyman The Magnificent. The mosque towers over an extensive complex of institutions, including a hospital, a college, a hamam, a market and a primary school, which surround it. The Süleymaniye mosque is awesome work of art, dating from a time when the Ottoman Empire was at its most splendid period. This magnificent work of classical Ottoman architecture, which plays host to both worshippers and tourists today, is one of the most commanding features of Istanbul’s enchanting skyline.

SPICE MARKET

One of the oldest covered bazaars in Istanbul, the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü located behind the Yeni Mosque and next to the flower market, was established by Sultan Turhan, and designed by architect Kazim Aga. It was given a new lease of life by the Municipality of Istanbul after its restoration between 1940 and 1943. Open everyday except Sundays, it sells herbs, spices, a variety of natural medicines, and plant and flower seeds. Beside these traditional commodities, one can now find a large range of dried fruits and nuts, cheeses, meats and other foods.