Istanbul
Spanning two continents, this ancient city is a romantic mix of new and old where east meets west. Shop for bargains at the Grand Bazaar or visit the amazing Hagia Sophia. Unique art, architecture, cuisine, night life, history and culture...you'll find it all in what was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
SuperStar Libra Shore Excursions:
LIST-1 – Bosphorus Cruise
Following the departure from the pier, stop at St. Sophia Museum. The building is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and is considered the eighth wonder of the world by most art historians. Haghia Sophia from the sixth century is the one and only construction that still stands in an excellent state of preservation and well worth an extended visit. Haghia Sophia was converted into a mosque the day Istanbul was conquered by the Turks. Although human portraits are strictly forbidden in Islam, the mosaic and frescoes were only painted over and thus preserved – thanks to the great tolerance of the young Sultan Mehmet II. St. Sophia became a museum in 1935 with the order of Atatürk – the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, and decoration was brought back to daylight today. Next, stop at the Spice Market. It is called the Egyptian Bazaar because the shopkeepers used to sell spices and herbs, which were brought from or through Egypt. Following a visit to Spice Market, embark the local boat for a leisurely cruise on the Bosphorus. One of the most beautiful sights in the world – the Bosphorus, is a strait that runs a winding course between the two continents from one sea to another. It is a natural border between Europe and Asia and it is the only outlet of the Black sea, which is connected to the Aegean through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles.
LIST-2 – Byzantine Heritage of Istanbul
Chora Museum houses one of the richest mosaic collections in the world. Homes in the district around the Chora Museum, restored by the Touring Automobile Association, create an authentic ambience that gives the visitors the feeling of the old city. Next, stop by at St. Sophia Museum. The building is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and is considered the eighth wonder of the world by most art historians. Haghia Sophia from the sixth century is the one and only construction that still stands in an excellent state of preservation and well worth an extended visit. Haghia Sophia was converted into a mosque the day Istanbul was conquered by the Turks. Next will be the Underground Cistern. The great Byzantine cistern was used to supply the necessary water to the city during the barbarian attacks and when the city was under the siege. The last stop will be the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is as surprising as it is huge. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for visitors and has consequently become a very popular place.
LIST-3 – Capital Of Two Empires
The first stop of the tour will be the world famous Blue Mosque. Known as the “Mosque of Sultan Ahmet”, the mosque is located next to the ancient Hippodrome and across from Hagia Sophia. The mosque has become known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. After visiting the Blue Mosque, you will continue to Hippodrome which was the scene for political struggles and uprisings in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. Continue to St. Sophia Museum. The building is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and is considered the eighth wonder of the world by most art historians. Haghia Sophia from the sixth century is the one and only construction that still stands in an excellent state of preservation and well worth an extended visit. Almost one thousand years passed before the construction of another dome as big as the St. Sophia. Next will be the Underground Cistern. The great Byzantine cistern, located across from Haghia Sophia, was used to supply the necessary water to the city during the barbarian attacks and when the city was under the siege. The last stop will be the Grand Bazaar. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for visitors and has consequently become a very popular place.
LIST-4 – Dolmabahce Palace & Turkish Modern Arts
The word “Dolmabahce” in English means “The filled garden”. Because the Dolmabahce Palace is founded upon a reclaimed area. It’s a beautiful 19th B.C. palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. Head towards the new Modern Arts Museum of Istanbul. Istanbul Modern opened in 2004 to demonstrate the artistic accumulation, creativity, and dynamism in Turkey, along with the universal values and modern cultural identity. Istanbul Modern aims to protect and put to good use the production in the modern and contemporary art scene. The founders of the museum convinced that Istanbul Modern will be a dynamic culture and arts center, open to change and constantly renewing itself to bring works of art closer to the masses, who will thus find a place for art in their daily lives.
LIST-5 – Chora Museum & Golden Horn
Chora Museum houses one of the richest mosaic collections in the world. Homes in the district around the Chora Museum, restored by the Touring Automobile Association, create an authentic ambience that gives the visitors the feeling of the old city. Following Chora Museum, you will reach Golden Horn via a drive along the ancient city walls of Istanbul. The Istanbul city walls, once an impenetrable fortification, stretch seven km from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. This horn-shaped estuary divides European Istanbul. Lovely parks and promenades line the shores where the setting sun casts a golden hue on the water. At Fener and Balat, whole streets full of historic wooden houses, churches, and synagogues date from Byzantine and Ottoman times can be found. Cemeteries dotted with dark cypress trees cover the hillsides. Many pilgrims come to the Tomb of Eyup, in the hope that their prayers will be granted. The Pierre Loti Café, atop the hill overlooking the shrine is a wonderful place to enjoy the tranquility of the view. The last stop of the tour will be the Spice Market.
LIST-6 – Ottoman Heritage Tour
The first stop of the tour will be the world famous Blue Mosque. Known as the “Mosque of Sultan Ahmet”, the mosque is located next to the ancient Hippodrome and across from Hagia Sophia. The mosque has become known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. After visiting the Blue Mosque, then you will continue to Hippodrome which was the scene for political struggles and uprisings in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. The tour continues with a visit to the famous Topkapi Palace, the administrative palace of the Ottoman Dynasty, which ruled the three continents for over six centuries. The last stop will be the Grand Bazaar. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for visitors and has consequently become a very popular place.
LIST-7 – Istanbul Panorama
Following the departure from the pier, you will cross over to the Asian Side of Istanbul through the first Bosphorus Bridge and will have chance of seeing the best of two continents. The tour guide will point out the Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace and many other treasures of Istanbul as you travel the busy streets, eventually heading back across the bridge to Europe. On the European side of Istanbul, you will pass many notable sites including the ancient city walls and you will stop for a visit to the world famous Blue Mosque. The mosque has become known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. The last place to see will be the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is as surprising as it is huge. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for visitors and has consequently become a very popular place. At the end of the tour, return to the pier.
LIST-8 – Istanbul Fullday
The first stop will be the world famous Blue Mosque. Known as the “Mosque of Sultan Ahmet”, the mosque is located next to the ancient Hippodrome and across from Haghia Sophia. It was built in the first quarter of the 17th century. The decorations of interior and outstanding tiles are well worth seeing. The mosque has become known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the blue-green Iznik tiles used for its interior decoration. After visiting the Blue Mosque, you will continue to Hippodrome which was the scene for political struggles and uprisings in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. The tour continues with a visit to the famous Topkapi Palace, the administrative palace of the Ottoman Dynasty, which ruled the three continents for over six centuries. After the lunch head towards St. Sophia Museum. The building is a masterpiece of the Byzantine architecture and considered as the eighth wonder of the world by most art historians. St. Sophia became a museum in 1935 with the order of Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic. The last stop will be the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is as surprising as it is huge. The atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for visitors and has consequently become a very popular place.
