ISTANBUL Full-Day PRIVATE Guided Tour; For the Top Historic Sites

1- BLUE MOSQUE : Blue mosque is a 400 hundred year old imperial mosque and it was built by the Ottoman Empire in the 17.th century AD. • It is famous for its twenty thousands blue ceramic tiles. Inside, you are going to see the beautiful blue tiles of the mosque together stained glass windows .. • There is a dress code for visiting the mosque; Women need headscarf and long dresses/ pants to cover the knee and men also need long pants to cover their knees It is free to get in

2- HAGIA SOPHIA : today it is partly under restoration Hagia Sophia is one of the oldest cathedrals of Constantinople/ Istanbul and it was built by the Eastern Roman Empire in the 6th century AD. And still standing for 1500 years with its huge dome. • It was used as a cathedral for about a thousand years during the Roman period and then it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman Empire took over the city in 1453 • Today it is partly used as a mosque and museum together. Inside, you will see icons and motifs from the Roman period and additions from the Ottoman period •There is a dress code to enter. Women need headscarf and long dresses that cover the knee and men also need pants to cover their knees

3- TOPKAPI PALACE : Topkapi palace is an imperial palace with a large complex that hosted the 600-year-old Ottoman empire for about 400 years. It is was built by the ottoman sultan Mehmet the II. In the 15th century AD. after capturing Constantinople. •It was used as the residence of ottoman sultans and the imperial palace of the empire . •in many rooms you will see objects from the Ottoman period Attention; • (TOPKAPI PALACE IS CLOSED on Tuesdays ) •(Tour guides are not allowed to accompany you in “some “private large exhibition rooms of the palace because of the large group of guided tours )

4- BASILICA CISTERN It was built as underground water tank / reservoir in the 6th century AD by the Roman Empire to provide the water to the city . Today it is used as a museum since it is not an active tank anymore. When you go down approximately 10 meters underground, you will feel in a mysterious underground city together with so many pillars and colorful lights . It has served as a filming location for some movies such as From Russia with Love (1963) – James Bond and Inferno (2016) – Tom Hanks, based on Dan Brown’s novel.

6- HIPPODROME •The square we call the hippodrome today was built by Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century AD after he chose the city as the new capital of the Roman Empire •The hippodrome was basically used for chariot races and it was the most popular activity in the city . •Today in the hippodrome you will see the Egyptian obelisk from Egypt, the serpent column from Greece, the German fountain from Germany and the walled obelisk from the city.

5- GRAND BAZAAR Grand bazaar is a 500 year old historical market&bazaar from the ottoman time and it was built in 1461 . Inside there are 3.500. Shops for , ceramic , spice , sweets , delight , jewelry and hand made rugs . As part of the market you will witness the demonstration of cultural heritage embroidery handicraft and clay pot demonstrations Grand bazaar is CLOSED ON SUNDAYS