UNV/01 – Byzantine Visions

Operates both privately and regularly.

Duration: 08:00 - 13:00

Notes:

- Year around program with minimum of 2 guests are required.

- Departs: Daily

- Guests will be picked up and dropped off from/to their hotels.

- St. Sophia is closed on Monday. This day, they will visit Chora (St. Savior in Chora)

- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday. This day, they can only visit the open section of the bazaar

- Lunch is not included.

Drive to old town and visit Hippodrome Square, the scene of Chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, which was originally built by Roman Emperor Septimus in 203 AD. Then visit Blue Mosque, built in early 17^th century and known as Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration with blue Iznik tiles. It is also unique in the world since it has 6 minarets.

Continue to St. Sophia, built by Emperor Constantius is 360 AD. St. Sophia was for many centuries the world’s largest church and today is the fourth largest one after St. Paul’s in London, St. Peter’s in Rome and Duomo in Milan.

Throughout its Byzantine history, St. Sophia served as the cathedral of the city where emperors were crowned and victories celebrated.

After his conquest of the city in 1453, Sultan Mehmet II ordered for the building to be converted into a mosque by the addition of Islamic elements such as a mihrab, a mimber, minarets etc.

After having served this time as a mosque for 481 years, the building become a museum in 1934 by the order of Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

Last stop will be at famous historical Grand Bazaar, the largest “souk” covered oriental shopping mall in the world, where you will find 4,400 shops under one roof where each trade has its own street. There is a wide selection of leather, jewelry, antiques, copperware, souvenirs, and famous hand-made Turkish carpets displayed in this historical shopping center.

For detailed information and reservation please contact us via our e-mail address by clicking here.