TOUR CODE : IST - 05 PORT : ISTANBUL TOUR DESTINATION : BLUE MOSQUE, ST.SOPHIA, TOPKAPI, GRAND BAZAAR TRANSPORTATION : BY A/C CAR OR MINIBUS DURATION OF TOUR : APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS MEAL : SEA FOOD RESTAURANT

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR

Drive to the Byzantine Hippodrome which was an immense structure begun in 203 AD by the Emperor Septimius Severus, later extended and remodelled by Constantine the Great in the IVth century.It could seat, according to one estimate, 100.000 spectators. The central line or "spina" was marked by obelisks and columns, three of which are still the outstanding monuments of the Hippodrome: the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the Theodosius' Column. After a short walk you arrive at the Blue Mosque, constructed at the beginning of the 17th century, renowned for the beautiful Iznik tiles of the best period used in the decoration of its interior, especially the lower parts of the walls and the galleries. Your next stop in this tour is one of the great buildings of the world: St.Sophia, completed in 537 BC during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, restored several times during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Lunch will be taken at a sea food restaurant at Marmara Sea as set menu. In the afternoon drive to Topkapi Palace.The dazzling treasures of the Ottoman Empire -including the famous Topkapi Emeralds- await you at the Seraglio Palace in Istanbul. This outstanding museum also houses priceless Chinese and European porcelain and a varied collection of historic objects d'art. The palace itself, once the home of the Ottoman Sultans, comprises mosques, schools, libraries, residential quarters and gardens adorned with fountains. In the Covered Market, largest souk in the world, you may not be able to buy jewels as outstanding as those in the Topkapi, but you will find an amazing selection of all kinds of articles. And the lively atmosphere of this area, with its narrow streets, countless boutiques, cafes and mosques, is an experience in itself.

  Note : Topkapi Palace is closed onTuesdays. Grand Covered Bazaar is closed on Sundays, two religious holidays and national holiday on 29.10. each year.