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Sample itineraries / Istanbul, the Old City This may be a walking tour since all listed above are in short walking distance to eachother... Or, if guests are not happy-walkers, then, we will arrange a private touring vehicle to be in service for guests. Starting at 9am, finishing around 5-6pm, we will have time to see: - Blue Mosque : A landmark of Istanbul... built in seven years, 400 years ago. It is the second largest of Istanbul (after the Mosque of Suleyman), unique with its six minarets, standing opposite to St. Sophia. Still in use as a mosque. The dome rises to 150 Feet high with a diameter of appx 80 Feet. - Hippodrome : Roman / Byzantine, 1700 years old... hard to imagine 40 rows of seats, accommodating 100.000 people... once the center of Byzantine social life... not much left to this day... a short photo stop of obelisks. - Topkapi Palace & Harem Sections : The main palace of Ottoman sultans, 500 years old. Walls speak to us... all these stories... being a tour guide for over 15 years, what amazes me most is; I still feel that there are things to learn from these walls... hiding all the secrets ! - St. (Hagia) Sophia : The Church of Holy Wisdom... was built in 5 years only, to be the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The structure served as a Cathedral for 1000 years. Back in 1453, Sultan Mehmet comes and turns the Byzantian city to be the capital of Ottoman Empire. From then on, the structure becomes an imperial mosque. Now, it is a museum. - Basilica (Underground) Cistern : 1500 years old... 450 Feet to 250 Feet... like a forest of marble columns... main water supply for royal Byzantium. - Grand (Covered) Bazaar : Ottoman, 500 years old, 60 narrow streets, 4000 shops, appx 300.000 visitors each day... yes, it is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world... hat shops, jewelry, calligraphy, pottery, costume shops, rugs, luck/evil eyes, antiques, all junk items... you name it, Bazaar has it ! |
