Pre-Cruise Tour: Istanbul
Byzantine and Ottoman metropolis
21–25 October 2009 •
Led by Julia Boadle •
Price £1280
Wednesday 21st October
Fly at 11.30 a.m. from London Heathrow to Istanbul (time in the air: c. 3 hours 30 minutes)—a short stroll around the Hippodrome before dinner—originally constructed c. AD 200 by Septimus Severus, it was completely rebuilt on a larger scale by Constantine and inaugurated in AD 330—it was at the centre of civil life in Byzantine Constantinople.
Thursday 22nd October
A day spent concentrating on the Byzantine monuments—begin with Haghia Sophia, the 6th-century church which is the chief monument of Christian Byzantium—the ornamental pavement belonging to the Byzantine Great Palace is displayed in the small Mosaic Museum—Fethiye Camii, former church of the Pammakaristos, now part functioning mosque, part mosaic museum—the Kariye Camii (St Saviour in Chora) possesses the finest assemblage of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes to survive anywhere.
Friday 23rd October
Yerebatan Saray is a remarkable colonnaded cistern—the Archaeological Museum, has an outstanding collection of ancient art and artefacts, Hellenistic and Roman sculpture, and sarcophagi—visit the Beyazidiye, the mosque complex of Beyazit II, with fine portals, minarets and courtyards—optional walk through the grand Bazaar—some free time.
Saturday 24th October
Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) is the last of Istanbul’s imperial mosques—contrast the large and imposing Süleymaniye complex, masterpiece of the great architect Sinan, with his beautiful small Rüstem Pasha Camii— brief walk through the Spice Bazaar—afternoon at the excellent Islamic Museum in the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which has textiles and various artefacts—finish with another small Sinan mosque, the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Camii.
Sunday 25th October
Topkapı Palace was the Sultan’s residence and the political centre of the Ottoman Empire—now used to display the Imperial Treasury, the finest surviving collection of Islamic precious objects and an outstanding collection of Chinese porcelain—free afternoon to explore independently. Board the ship at c. 17.00.
Price: see the cruise prices—in addition to the inclusions for the cruise, the price with pre-cruise tour includes:—air travel (economy class) with scheduled Turkish Airlines flights London to Istanbul (Airbus 310, Boeing 737)—travel by private coach—accommodation as described below—breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners with wine, water and coffee—all admission charges to sites, museums, etc.—all tips for waiters, drivers, guides—all state and airport taxes—the services of the lecturer and a Turkish guide.
Hotel: an elegant hotel, locally rated as 5-star, in the heart of the Sultanahment, close to the Blue Mosque—rooms are spacious, stylishly furnished and well-equipped—there is a roof terrace with views of the Bosphorus—included dinners are at the hotel or at selected restaurants around the city.
Visa: most foreign nationals require an entry visa—this is obtained upon arrival at the airport—currently the cost is £10 (not included in the tour price).
How strenuous? You will be on your feet a lot, walking and standing around, and Istanbul is quite hilly—the tour would not be suitable for anyone with difficulties with everyday walking and stairclimbing—average distance by coach per day: 9 miles.
Small group: between 12 and 22 participants.