A GUIDE TO ISTANBUL

Professional Tour Guides Tily Rubinstein & Linda Güler's Guide to Istanbul, Turkish sights, Tourism and History, Jewish sights in Turkey

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Classics of Istanbul

  • St.Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by the Byzantian Emperor Justinianus.
  • Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous for its blue İznik tiles and unique with its six minarets, was built for the Sultan Ahmet.
    Hippodrome, was the center of sporting (Chariot races, athletics) events and political activities in the old Byzantine city.
    Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column and German Fountain of Wilhelm II adorn the Hippodrome.
    Lunch Break
    Shopping (Grand Bazaar)
  • Topkapı Palace is the ex-imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Here on display is the Imperial Treasury, Chinese Porcelain Collection, which is the largest in the world, weapons, silk clothes of the Imperial Dynasty, objects of art and pavilions overlooking the whole city from a unique perspective.

    Optional sights: Yerebatan Cistern, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Süleymaniye Mosque, St. Saviour in Chora Monastery, City Walls, Spice Bazaar.



    Full Day Two Continents: Europe and Asia
  • Spice Bazaar is also called the Egyptian Bazaar and is famous for its mystical spice, fruit and vegetable shops.
    Bosphorus Cruise, through the strait separating Asia from Europe, offers you the chance to take pictures of marble palaces, old wooden seafront villas and pavilions of the Ottoman Era, beside modern residential and luxury apartments and to enjoy the beauty of this waterway between two continents.
  • Rumeli Fortress, historic castle built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture.
  • Dolmabahçe Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans with its 280 rooms and 22 grand halls. Famous for its great collection of european antiquities and the 4.5 tons chandelier.
  • Bosphorus Bridge; unique chance to step from one continent to the other in two minutes.
    Shopping (Asiatic Bazaar) opportunity to shop at jewellery, leatherware and souvenir shops in Beylerbeyi, a typical town on the Bosphorus.



    Full Day Jewish Heritage

  • Galata Neve Shalom synagogue, despite being relatively new, is the most important Jewish synagogue in Istanbul. Golden Horn Area
  • Ahrida Synagogue was built in 1460 by Jews who migrated from the town of Ohri in Macedonia. It displays the universality in Jewish art.
    Kuzguncuk Synagogue resembles the Ahrida Synagogue in its architectural style.
  • Jewish Hospital in Balat is the only Jewish medical facility in Istanbul. It has a synagogue and and a kitchen serving kosher food.
  • Jewish Cemetery in Ulus was erected after the Second World War. Now it houses the monument for 20 people who died at the attack on the Neve Shalom Synagogue in 1986.



    Full Day Pera
  • Galata After a visit at the Galata Tower, walking at the Pera Street, now officially Beyoğlu or Istiklal (Independence) Street visit of several catholic and orthodox churches with their portraits and ikonas.
  • Galatasaray Fish Market, Passage of Flowers, where you can taste the turkish "Raki" (The national drink), the main post office, Galatasaray High School and several consulate buildings having 19th Century architechtural styles, for example the British, French, Swedish and Russian Consulates.
  • Taksim Square with its Independence Monument showing Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic.




    Full Day Princes Islands

  • Cruise in the Marmara Sea towards the Princes Islands, visit Büyükada, the popular summer resort with its sandy beaches, pinewood scenery and beautiful townhouses, once the island on which Byzantine Princes were exiled.
    Tour of the island by horse-drawn carriages.
    Visit the Byzantine monastery on the island..

    Full Day Bursa

    This tour starts very early in the morning. Departure with the ferry-boat to Yalova.
  • One hour drive to Bursa, the former capital city of the Ottoman Empire, before Istanbul was conquered.
    Opportunity to see the lovely countryside.
  • Visit Ulucami, The Green Complex and early Ottoman mosques and eat lunch at a very famous restaurant:
    "The Kebab House of Alexander the Great."
  • Shopping in "Koza Hanı", the famous silk bazaar of Bursa.
    Return to Istanbul late in the evening.
    We can also organize dinner cruises, Turkish cabaret shows with belly dancers and folklore dance groups.



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