Tour Duration :
4,5 - 5 hrs
Min.# of guests :
2
Max.# of guests :
70 - 75 (The program
involves a visit to
Topkapi Palace Harem
Section, which has a
separate entrance and
considerably narrow
inside walking route)
Meals :
No
Refreshments :
No
Walking Level :
Medium
Dress Code :
Comfortable walking
shoes with rubber sole
is reccommended |
|
Located in the center of the Old World, Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities famous for its historical monuments and magnificent scenic beauties. Today, you will see some the Ottoman Era wonders of this unique city. You’ll start your program with a visit to the Blue Mosque, fantastic inside and out, with 30 domes and six fluted minarets, and covered inside by 21,000 17th century Iznik tiles. You really must go inside to experience the inexplicable feeling of peace that resonates through this marvellously spacious and beautifully decorated mosque.
The tour continues right across the street to the Topkapi Palace, powerful seat of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. Walk in the footsteps of Courtesans and Eunuchs, Grand Viziers and Sultans, and glimpse a way of life that redefines decadence. Today you can only imagine the activities of the cast of characters who played a part in one of the world’s most powerful dynasties. You can, however, feast your eyes on where the Ottoman potentates lived, on gilded swords, ornate crowns, over 12,000 pieces of porcelain, and ravishing displays of jewellery, including one of the world’s biggest diamonds. Wander around the Harem and Treasury, gaze at sacred religious relics including hand-written letters from the Prophet Mohammed as well as his cloak, swords, and hairs from his beard, the rod of Moses and the sword of David, peek into the circumcision room, or simply sit in the peaceful gardens and contemplate the majesty of it all. During you visit to the Harem Section. The word harem, as meaning taboo and/or forbidden, had been used for family concept in the Islamic society. Harem is the private and prohibited place where the dynasty lived in the Ottoman Palace. Harem is a rather important complex in terms of architecture that contains examples of palace architecture styles belonging to various periods starting from 16th century to early 19th century, where hundreds of concubines and harem chiefs that consisted the families of Sultans lived together.
Finally, visit the Grand Bazaar (always bustling with life except on Sundays, when it’s closed), which is owing its world known fame to its architecture, history, location, and sheer variety of merchandise, one of Istanbul’s most significant tourist sites. Built at the command of Sultan Mehmed the, Conqueror in 1461, the Bazaar initially consisted of just two warehouses (bedesten). In time, merchants began to set up their own stalls and workshops in the surrounding area. Dignitaries furthered the expansion with the addition of numerous caravanserais, so that soon the place had become a focus for trading goods from all over the empire. At the end of the program, return to the ship or to your hotel. |
