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DAY 1:
Depart from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport for Constantinople at 08:15 am. Arrival time 09:45 am. After clearance and receiving our luggage, our bus and tour guide will be waiting for us to begin our tour. First stop of the day will be the Church of Zoodochou Pigis and the tombs of the Patriarchs in the neighbourhood of Balikli. On our way there we’ll have the opportunity to see parts of the Byzantine walls erected by Emperor Theodosius. Our next stop will be the Monastery of Chora (or Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora). The Chora Church was originally built in the early 4th century as part of a monastery complex outside the city walls of Constantinople erected by Constantine the Great, to the south of the Golden Horn. However, when Theodosius II built his formidable land walls in 413–414, the church became incorporated within the city’s defences, but retained the name Chora. During our visit we will see the impressive mosaics dated from the mid 14th century that decorate its walls. We will arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 2:
After breakfast we set off for Christindom’s greatest church, Hagia Sofia. Built by the eastern Roman emperor Justinian I as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople for the state church of the Roman Empire between 532 and 537, the church was then the world’s largest interior space and among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have changed the history of architecture. Near Hagia Sofia we will also visit the Ancient Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), the Basilica Cistern of Justinian and the Topkapi Palace. Built in 1459 and originally named the New Palace, the Topkapi served in the 15th and 16th centuries as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans. From there we will head down to the Bosphorus River for a cruise. This river is considered one of the most strategic in the world. It runs between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara along a 25 kilometer course. It effectively marks a boundary between Europe and Asia, so you can take in the sights between two continents. The shores along the river are lined with everything from ancient ruins to marvelous palaces, and you’ll have a view from the river that you won’t find elsewhere. After our cruise we’ll head out to Tarabya for a seafood dinner. Return to the hotel for our overnight stay.
DAY 3:
After breakfast we’ll cross the bridge to Bostanci. From there we’ll board a boat for the island of Halki in the Prince’s Islands (Prigiponissa). At Halki we will visit its famous Greek Orthodox Theological Academy. Founded in 1844, it was the main school of theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church‘s Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until the Turkish parliament enacted a law banning private higher education institutions in 1971. The theological school is located on the site of the Byzantine-era Monastery of the Holy Trinity. From there we’ll continue on to the island of Prinkipo (Büyükada). Free time to visit the church of Saint George Koudouna and for lunch. Return to the city. Arrival at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 4:
After breakfast our day will begin with a visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. From there we will visit the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae. the church of St. Mary of Blachernae was built in 1867 over the ruins of the fifth century church which was destroyed in 1434, and was one of the most important sanctuaries of Greek Orthodoxy. History claims that this was where the Akathistos Hymn of Praise of the Holy Mother of God was first read. Then it’s time to shop! The Grand Bazaar has everything to offer. One of the largest and oldest covered bazaars in the world, the Grand Bazaar is 30,700 square meters with over 60 streets and alleys and 4,000 shops. The original historical core of the bazaar, İç Bedesten, was completed by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461. A “bedesten” refers to an indoor arcade with shops and there are several areas within the bazaar referred to by this name. Besides shopping we’ll have time to sit back at a café or restaurant and savour the atmosphere. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5:
After breakfast we will visit the Dolmabahçe Palace, then on to the Holy Shrine of the Virgin Mary at Vefa. This church has a very long history of sharing its space with members of other religions. Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities in Istanbul have long populated the church, known for the healing powers of its aghiasma (Holy Spring). Next stop is the Fortress of the Seven Towers (Yedikule Fortress) located next to the Golden Gate. Built in 1458, the fortress came to be known as the home of a formidable royal dungeon that housed notable figures throughout its history, and the associated intrigue captured the public’s imagination over the centuries in various legends, stories, and the arts. To end our stay in Constantinople we will climb up the Pierre Loti hill. Why is the place known as Pierre Loti hill? Pierre Loti, the pseudonym of Louis Marie – Julien Viaud, was a French author and navy officer who fell in love with the city after his first visit in 1876. Instead of settling in Pera district like most Europeans, Loti moved to the holiest neighborhood of the city to Muslims, which non-Muslims barely visited at the time. The sightlines across the Bosporus Inlet and Haliç Bridge offer an aerial perspective of Istanbul by rooftop. You’ll be amazed at how far you can see and all the architectural details of Constantinople you might have missed at ground level. Sit back and enjoy the view with a coffee. Arrival at the airport and departure for Athens at 21:20 pm.. Arrival time in Athens 22:50 pm.
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