4 DAY / 3 NIGHT
Highlights
of Istanbul (IST
– 03) Full day with lunch Begin
the excursion with a drive through the business centre of the modern
city, across the Galata Bridge, along the banks of the Golden Horn and
under the Byzantine Aqueduct of Valens. On the way, you can see the Süleymaniye
Mosque, dedicated to Sultan Süleyman The Magnificent. Continue around
the mighty city walls, which once protected Constantinople from the
many invasions and attacks it suffered over the centuries. In the Old
City, the first visit will be to the Byzantine Hippodrome, which was
once one of the largest chariot race arenas in the Byzantine Empire. Visit
the Sultanahmet Mosque, where large groups of pilgrims start their
pilgrimage to Mecca. It is decorated with 21,000 blue Iznik tiles from
where it gets its name, the “Blue Mosque”. Walk to the famous
Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine Church of Divine Wisdom, where you can
admire the superb mosaics and the marble decorations. Time
for lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the magnificent
Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans. See the
famous treasury and the “Spoonmaker’s Diamond”, the 7th
biggest diamond in the world. During
the tour you will also have the opportunity to get a cultural taste of
Turkey by enjoying an exhibition of oriental carpets, jewellery or
leather goods. REMARKS Scenic
Bosphorus Cruise (IST
– 04) Half day Start
the tour with a short drive through the modern city of Istanbul,
crossing the Galata Bridge en route to the Golden Horn. The impressive
Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Turkish architect Sinan and dedicated to
Sultan Süleyman The Magnificent, can be seen on the way. At the
Golden Horn, take a short walk to the Cruise Boat Station where your
private boat will be waiting for your exciting trip on the Bosphorus.
You will sail past Dolmabahce and Ciragan Palaces built on the
European shore, glide under the Bosphorus Bridge and past Beylerbeyi
Palace, Anatolian Fortress and Kanlica on the Asian shore. You will
have the chance to take amazing photographs sailing between these two
continents. Secret
Treasures of Istanbul (IST
– 05) Full day with lunch This
tour is designed to give you a glimpse of the best and the most famous
monuments in Istanbul remaining from the Byzantine Empire era. Depart
from the pier for an interesting tour of Istanbul with a city
sightseeing drive through the business centre of the modern city,
across the Galata Bridge, along the banks of the Golden Horn and under
the Byzantine Aqueduct of Valens. On the way, you can see the Süleymaniye
Mosque dedicated to Sultan Süleyman The Magnificent, built by the
famous Turkish Architect, Sinan. Arrive at Chora Museum. This 11th
Century
church of St. Savior in Chora is the most important Byzantine monument
in Istanbul after St. Sophia museum. There is a collection of 14th
Century frescoes, gold-inlaid mosaics and some of the World’s finest
Byzantine paintings. Continue with a drive along the ancient Byzantine
city walls to the Byzantine Hippodrome where the chariot races and
celebrations in honour of the emperors, once took place during the
Byzantine era. Visit the ancient church of St. Sergius and Bachus
which belonged to the monastery of Hormisdas and was built as the
result of a vow made by Justinian when he was on the point of being
executed for conspiring against his predecessor. The tour continues
with a visit to an Underground Cistern, consisting of a network of
waterways built as far back as the 3rd Century B.C., to
protect the city against long sieges. Continue to Balat area, another
historical part of Istanbul, for lunch at the restaurant. After lunch,
visit The Patriarchate which is located just 50 m away from the
restaurant or just relax strolling along the Golden Horn. Drive to
Rustem Pasha Mosque, located at Eminonu close to the Spice Market.
This Mosque was built by Sinan in 1550 for Rustem Pasha, a grand
vizier who married one of the daughters of Süleyman The Magnificent.
Inside and on the façade you can see some beautiful Iznik faience.
The Mihrab, completely covered with faience tiles and the Mimbar are
particularly striking. REMARKS
Izmir
City Tour (ISM
– 01) Half day Izmir
is Turkey's third largest city, with an inhabited area of more than
12,000 km2 and a population of over 3 million. It has always
been famous for its port, which is one of the most important in the
country for trade and exports of dried figs, sultanas and hazelnuts, and
at first glance looks like an extremely modern city. But traces of
Izmir's ancient past will appear before your eyes in all their
magnificence amidst the skyscrapers and concrete apartment blocks.
Indeed, right in the heart of the city you can admire the remains of the
ancient agora, built during the Roman period by the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius in 178 B.C.. It was used for political gatherings and elections
by the representatives of the Roman government, but was also the main
commercial area of the city. Your local guide will show you the only
two-storey agora known to scholars: the first floor was reserved for
wholesale trade, with workshops, cooling cisterns and warehouses for
goods, whilst the second floor was designed for political meetings and
retail trade. Many of the exhibits on display at Izmir's New
Archaeological Museum, another remarkable stop on your itinerary, were
discovered in the agora. The Museum's three large galleries (dedicated
to statues, objects and ceramics respectively) are equipped with a
modern lighting system that will guide you through the numerous precious
exhibits on an evocative journey through history. Pergamum
(ISM
– 02) Half day Depart
from the port of Izmir for an itinerary of great historical interest
which will take you, in more or less 1 ½
hours, to Pergamum. The main centre, together with Alexandria, of
the Hellenistic civilisation in the East and capital of the Roman
province of Asia, Pergamum enjoyed over three centuries of economical
prosperity which resulted in exceptional cultural and artistic
development. It is possible to appreciate the ability of Greek and Roman
architects in developing this challenging location to the urbanistic
requirements of a great capital city. You will visit the
"ASKELEPION" complex built to honour ASCLEPIO, god of medicine
(ESCULAPIO for the Romans), former place of worship and therapeutical
centre among the most celebrated in the ancient world. After a short
drive you will board the cable car and where en-route you will enjoy an
awesome scenery. You will then reach the ACROPOLIS which dominates the
surrounding plain from a height of 275 m. Originally fenced by three
walls, of which few traces remain, on this rocky spur many temples,
palaces, public and private buildings were erected. After this wonderful
visit you will re-board the cable car and reach the parking lot. Return
to Izmir and the ship. Ephesus
& the House of Virgin Mary (ISM
– 04) Half day Board
you coach and drive to the House of Virgin Mary. Situated in a small
valley 75 minutes drive from Izmir, the humble chapel lies on the site
of the little house where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her
last days. Despite the many controversies, the Christian World still
favours this belief and the site has been officially sanctioned by the
Vatican for pilgrimage. Continue on to Ancient Ephesus, accompanied by
your guide walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the
ancient city of Ephesus. Your guided walking tour will take you through
one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. See the Odeon
(concert hall), the Fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of
Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of
Celsus and The Great Theatre, the largest one in antiquity with a
capacity of 24,000 seats where St. Paul preached. Walk back to the coach
along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in
procession. Before returning to the ship, get a cultural taste of Turkey
by enjoying an exhibition of oriental carpets or leather goods. REMARKS Tour
not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties.
Ancient
Ephesus (ISM
– 03) Half day Board
your coach and set out for the ancient city located approximately 1 hour
drive from Izmir. Reach the ancient Ephesus. Famous in antiquity for its
temple of Diana, during the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of
Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. Upon arrival at Ephesus
follow your guide to enter the ancient site through the Magnesia Gate.
Discover innumerable monuments including the Forum, the Odeon, the
Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the Great Theatre
built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period, which is
still noted for its remarkable acoustics. View the symbols all around
and marvel at the fact that one is still able to read the inscriptions
in the ancient Greek language. Walk back to your coach along the
Arcadian Way, where once Mark Anthony and Cleopatra rode in procession.
Before returning to the ship, get a cultural taste of Turkey by enjoying
an exhibition of oriental carpets or leather goods. REMARKS Tour
not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties.
Athens City Tour and Acropolis (PIR – 01) Half day
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