From Byzantium to Ottoman Empire
After gathering the group, we will head to the historical district of Sultanahmet to explore the symbols of the ancient city.
- Hippodrome Square — center of public life, built during the Byzantine Empire. You'll learn about the purpose of this place, look at the legendary Snake's Head, the German Fountain and ancient obelisks that were brought from Egypt.
- The Blue Mosque will become our portal to the Ottoman era. We will help you discover the secret of its name, understand whether the student of the architect Mimar Sinan surpassed his teacher, and we will tell you where and how the Ottoman sultans and their subjects prayed.
- The Hagia Sophia Mosque, which from the moment of its creation occupied a special place in the culture of two empires, Byzantine and Ottoman. Get ready to view the monumental cathedral from the outside, appreciate its interior decoration and hear about the main milestones in the history of this great building.
- Topkapi Palace, where 25 Ottoman sultans lived and ruled the Empire. Step by step you will explore each room and admire the treasures and trophies. Topkapi houses, among others, the staff of Moses, the locks of the Holy Kaaba and the world's largest diamond. Against the backdrop of magnificent interiors and in the garden, you will learn not only about the construction and architecture of Topkapi, but also about how palace life was organized.
- Church of St. Irene: you will trace its difficult fate from the Nika uprising to the Ottomans.
Languages of the tour
- Russian
Information
The price includes:
- transfer from hotel to hotel if you are staying in a tourist area (Sultanahmet, Laleli, Beyazit, Sirkeci, Eminonu, Taksim areas).
- It takes about 30 to gather guests — 40 minutes of the total excursion time.
- We go sightseeing inside
- I or another guide from our team will conduct the excursion for you
- Museum entrance tickets
Not included in the price:
- personal expenses
Excursion starting point:
- your hotel
Order cancellation conditions:
If a tourist cancels an excursion in less than 3 days, the penalty is 100%.
Important:
- The company is not responsible for lost items.
- Responsibility for having an individual insurance policy falls on the tourist.
- Visiting holy places is allowed only in modest clothing, and you must also have a headscarf when visiting a mosque.
We recommend:
Bring drinking water, a hat, sunglasses with you on the excursion
Attractions
Istanbul — the largest city in Turkey and one of the most important cultural, historical and economic centers of the country. Located on the border between Europe and Asia, where the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara meet. Istanbul is a unique city that is rich in history, diverse architecture and cultural heritage. Over the centuries, it has been the capital of several great empires, such as the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, giving it a rich cultural heritage. The city is famous for its majestic mosques, palaces, bazaars and other historical sites.
The Blue Mosque, or Sultanahmet Mosque, is the first most important mosque in Istanbul. It has six minarets: four, as usual, on the sides, and two slightly less tall ones on the outer corners. Considered an outstanding example of Islamic and world architecture.
Sultanahmet Square (Ahmedia, Hippodrome) is the main square of Istanbul, located in the historical center of the city in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Fatih district. Consists of two parts: the square between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome Square itself
Topkapi or Topkapi, obsolete. The Seraglio was the main palace of the Ottoman Empire until the mid-19th century. Located in the historical center of Istanbul, on Cape Sarayburnu, at the confluence of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn into the Sea of Marmara. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the palace was turned into a museum - one of the largest in area in the world