GETAWAYS: Ancient Constantinople & Ephesus

Arrive in Istanbul and make your own way to the hotel for overnight

Meal (s): no meals
Hotel (s): ST, FC, SF* (see hotel class key below) 

After breakfast join a full day tour of the City Old Quarters and first, visit Hagia Sophia Cathedral Museum (closed on Mon between end of Oct & beginning of Apr). The church of Holy Wisdom built by the Emperor Justinian circa AD 535, is undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the world. Nowhere is Istanbul's exceptional status as former capital of both the Christian and Islamic empires more evident than in this monumental basilica crowned with four minarets.

Then, stroll through the former Imperial Hippodrome and see the impressive granite Obelisk of Theodosius carved in Egypt around 1450 BC; so-called Serpentine Column, brought from the Temple of Apollo Delphi Greece; the Colossus or the column of Constantine Porphyrgenitus; the German Fountain or Fountain of Kaiser Wilhelm II that commemorates the alliance of German Empire and Ottoman Empire against the allied powers of Russia, Great Britain, France and Japan before the World War I.

Directly facing Hagia Sophia, raises another architectural masterpiece, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet or better known as Blue Mosque (closed on Fridays morning & will be visited afternoon), perhaps the most instantly recognizable - and unforgettable - silhouette on Istanbul's skyline. It was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I in the early 1600s to rival the grand old lady of Christianity. Peek inside to see the wall-to-wall over 20,000 glazed blue porcelain Iznik tiles, predominantly in shades of blue, that have given the mosque its popular name.

Spend some time on the Istanbul’s legendary Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays); a labyrinth of over 4,000 little shops, occupying 30.7 hectares. It is everything one dreams an oriental market could be and indeed one of the most fascinating and irresistible attractions of Istanbul. Established by Mehmet the Conqueror in mid-15th century, it is a small city in itself. Its shops are full of treasures – including carpets and kilims, silks, jewellery, ceramics, icons, and leather goods.

Have lunch at one of the local restaurants and continue to the Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesdays) built between 1459 and 1465 as the seat of government of the newly installed Ottoman regime. The Great Palace of the Ottoman Sultans is the most extensive and fascinating monument of Ottoman civil architecture in existence. In addition to its architectural and historical interest, it contains as a museum, superb and unrivalled collections of porcelains, armor, fabrics, jewels, illuminated manuscripts, calligraphy and many objects of art formerly belonging to the Sultans. See the Pavilion of the Sacred Relics, the highlight of the museum - the Imperial Treasury, the newly renovated pavilion of palace Kitchens that houses an outstanding porcelain collection from all over the world, and tens of the other pavilions and exhibits.

Later, see Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, formerly the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus, a former Eastern Orthodox Church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople, converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. Return to the hotel for overnight

Meal (s):  Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel be picked-up from the lobby and drive to the pier to take a regular touristic ferryboat that will take you for 1h30m enjoyable trip on the Bosphorus Strait. From your cruise boat, you will view the dramatic sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, the Bosphorus Bridge that for a time was the world longest, and the massive Rumeli Hisari, a fortress built by Fatih the Conqueror in just three months as he did preparations to conquer Istanbul. The 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultan’s fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges; most famous of them is Dolmabahçe Palace, yet another residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Pass by the Ortaköy area with its restaurants, bars and cafes. It was also an area were, through centuries three religions have peacefully coexisted: there are still active church, mosque & synagogue at the same area.

After disembarkation drive along the coast line of the Golden Horn, the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of İstanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. The residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-Muslim minorities. Drive along the traces of history at Balat viewing Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim), Fener Orthodox Patriarchate and 22 km Long Byzantine City Walls, strongest fortification of the middle age. Then, take a Cable car (funicular) to Pierre Loti. 

After the tour be transferred to the domestic airport for a short flight to Izmir. TK2328 departs IST 1600/arrives ADB 1705. Upon arrival meet and greet and be transferred to the hotel for overnight  

Meal (s): Breakfast
Hotel (s): ST, FC, SF * (see hotel class key below) 

Have breakfast, check-out the hotel and join a tour of one of the most significant historical sites, the open air museum of the ancient Ephesus that recently has been included into the UNESCO World Heritage list. Ephesus is home to one of the oldest known human settlements, and even after 148 years of digs and discovery done by archeologists, only 20 percent of the ancient city has been recovered.
The continues excavations that started in the mid-19th century have revealed grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period including the Library of Celsius, the Great Theatre, the legendary marble streets, Hadrian’s temple,  the Agora, the Temple of Domitian and the Tomb and Fountain of Polli, Roman baths, Grotto of St Paul, Prytanion, the Curates Street. 
Ancient City of Ephesus is an outstanding example of a Roman port city, with sea channel and harbour basin, one of important sites of the Mediterranean region, a city which was continuously inhabited from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, mostly as the leading community in the region.

Later, make a short stop at the remains of the famous Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,” which drew pilgrims from all around the Mediterranean.

Lunch will be provided at one of the local restaurants during the tour.
After the lunch we will see Isa bey Mosque in Seljuk, a beautiful example of Seljuk architecture, which is the oldest known example of the Turkish Mosque.

Next visit will be to the House of Virgin Mary. Since the 5th century, the House of the Virgin Mary, a domed cruciform chapel near Ephesus, became a major place of Christian pilgrimage. According to predominant Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the Resurrection of Christ and lived out her days there. Archeologists identified that the building dates from the 6th or 7th century but its foundations are much older and can be well dated from the 1st century AD when Mary lived. This site had long been a place of pilgrimage for local Orthodox Christians.
The House of the Virgin is a sacred site for both Christians and Muslims (Muslims also believe in the virgin birth and honor Mary as the mother of the Prophet Jesus – Isa)
After the tour be transferred to Izmir airport for a flight to Istanbul. TK2329, departs ADB 1800/ arrives IST1905

Upon arrival in Istanbul either make your own arrangements or choose extension of our services (i.e. hotel booking, transfer, extension tour packages, etc.)

Meal (s): Breakfast, Lunch