Tour 2

TOUR 2 : BYZANTINE ERA vs OTTOMAN ERA & SPICY SHOPPING

(15^th April 2010 – Tour for accompanying person)

(09h00 – 15h00) Today after the breakfast guests will be transferred by coach to the city where guests will start the discovery of Istanbul with the Underground Cistern (*),Archeological Museum (**), Arasta Bazaar (***) and Süleymaniye Mosque (****) .
 
(*) The Underground Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi, the Sunken Palace) is the best preserved of a series of reservoirs in the city and was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD. It measures 140 by 70 meters and was the water source for the Grand Palace of the Byzantines and later for the Topkapi Palace gardens. The calm at­mosphere accom­panied by classical music echoing on the waters among this forest of columns -336 in total-, far below the din of the city, is an experience unparalleled to the busy life above. …

(**) Archeological Museum houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history.

Istanbul Archeology Museums consist of three museums. Those are Archeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum and Enameled Kiosk Museum. Istanbul Archeology Museums, which were established as Müze-i Humayun (Empire Museum) by the famous artist and museum director Osman Hamdi Bey at the end of the 19th century, were opened to public on June 13, 1891. Besides its importance as the “first Turkish museum”, it has an importance and specialty being one of the museum buildings that are constructed as a Museum in the World. Today, it still protects its outstanding place in the World’s biggest museums with its works more than a million belonging to various cultures. In the museum collections, there are rich and very important works of art belonging to various civilizations from the regions from Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to Arab Peninsula and Afghanistan that were in the borders of the Ottoman Empire.

(***) Arasta Bazaar is small, simple but savvy shoppers have discovered Arasta which yields many wonderful treasures as well as result in numerous memorable experiences involving the people who operate the shops.

(****) The Süleymaniye Mosque is a massive complex of domed buildings, located in a dominant position overlooking the Old City. This complex which contains schools, libraries, hospitals, baths and kitchens was built by the greatest architect of the Em­pire, Sinan, under the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Mag­nificent.

It took seven years to establish the complex for which ar­tists and materials were brought in from all over the empire.

Lunch will be served at an Ottoman speciality restaurant and consists of original Ottoman & Turkish dishes.
COSTING
Per person: 79.- € 

Included in the Costings:

• Transfers mentioned in the above programme by appropriate transportation vehicle
  
• Entrance fees to the mentioned sites in the programme given above
  
• Local guide during sightseeing
  
• Lunch
  
• VAT for each service
  
• Service charge

Excluded from the Costings:

• Any kind of beverages during lunch
  
• Travel insurance
  
• Out of the pocket expenses