Tour of Istanbul

Our touring day…. a full day with private guide to all the major sites of Istanbul:
The Roman Sites:

The Hippodrome

Constantine’s Column,

Built on the orders of Constantine the Great in 330 AD, it commemorates the declaration of Byzantium (Constantine) as the new capital of the Roman Empire.

The Byzantine Sites

Aya Sophia
The most renowned Byzantine cathedral (Christian church) in Istanbul. Emperor Justinian (527 – 565 AD) appointed architects Isidoros and Anthemios to build the Aya Sophia. Columns, heads, marble and coloured stones were imported to Istanbul from ancient cities in Anatolia for the purpose. Mehmet the Conqueror turned it into a mosque upon conquering Constantinople (1453 AD). Aya (Hagia, or Saint) Sophia was declared a national monument and became a museum by the order of Ataturk in 1934.

The Ottoman Sites:

Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii),known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice.

Topkapi Palace

Suleymanie Cami (Mosque).

Built in 1557 by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, ordered by Suleiman the Magnificent

After a day of walking, we were plenty tired. Martin was a huge hit with the Turks. He’s met so many “new friends” (many of them with carpet shops)- but a few have been forthcoming with great local restaurant recommendations. The recommendation tonight was a local dive- no tourists, wine for $10 a bottle and great food. (Buhara)