Living History D-3

08:30-18:00 DAILY (except Monday)

DOLMABAHÇE PALACE, HAREM OF DOLMABAHÇE PALACE, PHILOXENUS TANK OR BINBIRDIREK, SULEIMANIYE MOSQUE, MINOR HAYA SOPHIA, LUNCH (in a Turkish restaurant), SHIP TOUR, GOLDEN HORN BAY, BOSPORUS STRAIT, RUMELI HISAR FORTRESS (outside external review), Maiden's Tower (external overview), BEYLERBEYI PARK (observation deck in the Asian part)

Dolmabahce Palace: Built in the mid-19th century by order of Sultan Abdulmecid I, Dolmabahce Palace was intended to rival the best palaces of European monarchs with its luxury. It remained the residence of the Ottoman sultans until the collapse of the empire and the beginning of the reign of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The palace consists of two parts: the official part, called "selamlik", and the "harem", where the concubines lived. Using 14 tons of gold in its decoration, the palace includes treasures such as a five-ton chandelier given by Queen Victoria, a collection of paintings by Aivazovsky and the famous Crystal Staircase.

Suleymaniye Mosque: Built in 1557 by order of Sultan Suleyman for his wife Hurrem, the Suleymaniye Mosque is an architectural masterpiece. It is also the burial place of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, his wife Hurrem and their daughter Mihrimah. The mosque includes a complex of premises such as baths, madrassas, kitchens, libraries and an astronomical observatory. From its huge viewing platform you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the city.

Philoxenus Cistern (Binbirdirek): This is one of the oldest cisterns in the city, built in the 5th century AD. under the leadership of Senator Philoxenus. Consisting of a hypostyle hall with 224 marble columns, the cistern represents an important architectural heritage of Istanbul.

Lesser Hagia Sophia Mosque: This is one of the oldest mosques in Istanbul, completed in 536. The interior of the mosque is rich in openwork decorative elements, making it a magnificent example of exquisite architecture. On the territory of the mosque there is also an old cemetery, a madrasah and a tea garden.

The boat tour will begin from the Golden Horn, on the banks of which the buildings of the Byzantine and Ottoman eras of the city are located. You will learn about the life of Greek regions and the monuments of the bygone Constantinople. It was here, on the southern bank of the mouth of the Golden Horn, in the 7th century BC. e. The city of Byzantium was founded, which later, in 330, by the decision of Constantine the Great, became the capital of the Roman Empire under the name New Rome. About 6,000 years ago, at the confluence of the Kyagythane and Ali-su river waterways with the waters of the famous Bosphorus Strait, a natural bay was formed, later called the Golden Horn.

This name was given to it for two reasons: “horn” - because of its shape, and “golden” - because of its strategically convenient trading location. The Golden Horn backwater is located in the place where the Bosporus Strait flows into the Sea of Marmara. Along the shores of the bay are the ancient districts of Galata, Balat, Fatih, etc., adjacent to important historical monuments.

Both shores of the bay are connected by 5 bridges, 3 of which are drawbridges. Istanbul stretches across two continents, and the Golden Horn Bay divides the European half of the city into two more parts. When the sun sets, the waters of the Golden Horn Bay are colorful and shimmer with many shades of gold!

The Bosphorus Strait is the very breath of Istanbul, filled with the cries of seagulls, the sound of waves and calls to prayer heard from the minarets. These are ancient villas, Ottoman palaces, fortresses and gigantic bridges that amaze with their beauty. The Bosphorus is the narrowest intercontinental strait in the world. The largest Turkish city, Istanbul, is located on both sides of the strait. The length of the strait is 30 kilometers, and in the widest part the distance between the banks is 3500 meters. In the narrow “throat” of the Bosphorus between the shores of Europe and Asia, three suspension bridges have been built and operate - the 1st Bosphorus Bridge, the Sultan Mehmed Fatih Bridge and the Sultan Baha Selim Bridge.

During a boat trip along the Bosphorus, you will sail between two continents, enjoy views of the shores of the European and Asian parts, look at the ancient fortress of Rumeli Hissar (external view) and the legendary Maiden Tower (external view). The fortress played a historical role in the storming of Constantinople in 1453, cutting off the city from the Black Sea, and the Maiden Tower over the centuries of its existence served as a lighthouse, a prison, a place of pilgrimage and an isolation ward during cholera.

At the end of the tour, you will visit one of the best observation platforms in the Asian part, Beylerbeyi Palace Park (the summer residence of the sultans). You will enjoy the most beautiful panoramic views of the city and the Bosphorus Strait.

The price of the excursion includes: 6 entrance tickets, 6 meals, transfer, boat trip, services of a licensed English-speaking guide.