9am - you will be met at the pier by your expert guide and taken by Mercedes VIP minivan on your fascinating journey into Ottoman Heritage.
Start the day with a visit of the Blue Mosque - probably one of the most famous masterpieces of Ottoman religious architechture. Named after its Turquoise colored tiles made of quartz minerals, the building is also unique for its six minarets. Ottoman Sultans preferred to pray in this timeless shrine due to its incomparable beauty until when the empire collapsed after WWI.
Continue the morning with a visit to the home of Sultans - Topkapi Palace. Located on the very cape of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, the palace was built as the center of administration of the Ottoman Empire when the city was conquered by Turks in 1453 AD. Today you will enjoy a comprehensive tour of the palace - through the various corridors and sections Harem, where the Sultan lived with his family. Notice the strong impact of oriental motifs and patterns in the interior décor - especially the fabulous Iznik tiles adorning the walls.
Leaving the Harem through the Golden Corridor, you will reach the inner courtyard to visit the Treasury, which displays exclusive examples of jewelry and accessories that were used by the Sultans or given as gifts to ambassadors and foreign dignitaries.
You can enjoy lunch in the lovely and tranquil garden of the Four Seasons Hotel in the Old City. It has great Turkish food and is located just steps away from the Palace.
Continue your day by experiencing the Cagaloglu Hammam, a historical traditional Turkish Bath dating back to the 17th century. This place is visited by many stars - like Cameron Diaz - and notables. The atmosphere in the baths is magical.
Later in the afternoon, you will have time to saunter through the Grand Bazaar and Nuru Osmaniye District where you can shop for rugs, jewelry, leathercrafts and handcrafted souvenirs.
After a full day of exploration, your guide will escort you back to the pier for embarkation.
Duration - 5 hours
Pricing - USD $450 per person (2-3 pax) and USD $300 per person (4-5 pax). Note that a full privatization of the Cagaloglu Hammam for 2 hours is possible for a supplement of USD $3450 per group (treatments included).
Includes - Professional lecturer/guide, luxury non-smoking minivan with A/C, all entrance and parking fees, luxury Ottoman Treatment Service at historical Turkish Baths, guide books, maps, bookmarks and stamped postcards, complimentary refreshments in vehicle. Lunch and guide tips are extra.
Languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese, French
Tour Code - TU-VTSotto
