ISLAMIC HERITAGE in ISTANBUL
Duration: Full day (08:30 to 17:30)
Price: 50 Euro (per person)
Run: Everyday
After pick up from hotel or Istanbul cruise port, we will start
the full day guided tour.
Our tour starts visiting the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art;
the dark stone building that houses the Museum of Turkish and
Islamic Art was built in 1524 by the Grand Vizier to Suleyman
the Magnificent, Ibrahim Pasa, as his residence. It was the grandest
private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. Today it
holds a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork, miniatures,
calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as some of the oldest
carpets in the world.
Next spot will the Imperial Sultanahmet Mosque; across from
Hagia Sophia stands with six minarets, built between 1609 and
1616 by the architect Mehmet, the building is more familiarly
known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior
paneling of blue and white Iznik tiles.
Drive to Rustem Pasha Mosque: It was designed by Mimar Sinan
("Sinan the Architect") for Grand Vizier Rüstem
Pasha (who married one of the daughters of Suleiman the Magnificent,
Princess Mihrimah). Its building took place from 1561 to 1563.
The mosque is famous for its exquisite Iznik tiles, set in beautiful
floral and geometric designs, which cover not only the facade
of the porch but also the mihrab, minbar, walls, and columns.
Lunch in a fine Kebap Restaurant near by Rustem Pasha Mosque.
Drive to Eyup where the first mosque built after the Ottoman
conquest of the city, this greatly venerated shrine attracts
many pilgrims. The great Mosque of Eyup which lies outside the
city walls, near the Golden Horn, the standard bearer of the
Prophet Mohammed, died in the Islamic assault on Constantinople
in A.D. 670 will be our next spot. Drive to Pierre Loti for a
Turkish Coffee with the birds eye view of the Golden Horn.
We will finish the day with a visit to Miniaturk Cultural Park,
where models of architectural masterpieces representing the Anatolian
and Ottoman civilizations are exhibited, offers a historical
visit to Turkey in one compact area. Models of more than 100
historical works, including the Library of Celsus at Ephesus,
the Malabadi Bridge, Bursa's Ulu Mosque, the Tomb of Mevlana,
Mescid-i Aksa, the Church of St. Antoine, the Ottoman galley
Bastarda (circa 1657), Ataturk's boat, the Yerebatan Cistern,
Mardin stone houses, Cappadocian Peri bacalari (fairy chimneys),
Ataturk's mausoleum, Aspendos, Hagia Sophia and the Maiden's
Tower can all be seen in one single place. Visitors enter Miniaturk
after viewing a 43- meter-long replica of the Bosphorus Bridge,
spanning an artificial lake.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel or
Istanbul cruise port.
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Please take note of the following:
* 30% discount for children below the age 7, free for the ages
0-2
* Clothing: Entrance to Mosques visited in our tours is not allowed
to gentlemen and ladies with no proper outfit.
* Friday pray willbe done at Blue Mosque on request
* You are kindly requested to present your self at the pick up
point 15 minutes prior the pre advised pick up time.
* Smoking is not permitted but all tours make frequent stops.
What's Included:
* Pick up and drop off at your Hotel or Cruise Port
* Transportation by air-conditioned non-smoking tour coaches
* Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* All entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museums,
parking and road tolls
* Lunch at local restaurant (drinks extra)
* Local taxes
