Istanbul
Description
Istanbul is unique and unforgettable. Our full day
excursion will immerse you in this vibrant, colourful
and fascinating city at the crossroads of Europe and
Asia. Many empires have held power in the place once
called Constantinople including the Greeks, Romans,
Venetians and the Ottomans.
The historic heart of old Istanbul is the Sultanahmet
district and our starting point is the Byzantine
Hippodrome where horse and chariot racing once
drew crowds of 100,000 or more. Nearby is the
Kaiser’s German fountain, the bronze Serpent Column
of Delphi, the Egyptian Obelisk and the Walled Obelisk
of Constantine VII.
Recognised across the globe is the Mosque of Sultan
Ahmet, more popularly known as the Blue Mosque
because of the stunning hand painted blue tiles inside.
It is well worth taking a few minutes just to gaze and
let the amazing beauty sink in whether you are inside
or outside.
Across the square sits the imposing Church of
the Holy Wisdom of God or Hagia Sophia, once a
church, then an Ottoman imperial mosque and now
a museum. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine
architecture.
We then visit the incomparable Topkapi Palace, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site where we have lunch
at the Konyali Restaurant enjoying a view over the
Bosphorus.
If all this still leaves you with a thirst for more
discovery you can do no better than explore the sights,
sounds and colours of Istanbul’s incredible Grand
Bazaar, with 4000 shops and stalls, 58 streets under
one roof, 400,000 visitors daily and millions of things
for sale.
