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Ottoman Turkey - Bursa, Iznik, Istanbul, Edirne
9
days
from
US$6,370
Book today with a deposit of
US$956
1st - 9th October 2027
Tour highlights
- Explores some of the finest Ottoman buildings; works by the great architect Sinan mark a high point of Islamic architecture.
- Includes outstanding Byzantine mosaics and wall paintings, Iznik ceramics and tiles, textiles and craft work in wood and metal.
- Led by a leading specialist on Islamic art and architecture.
- Stays in and the Ottoman capitals of Bursa and Edirne and Istanbul, capital from 1453.
In the Islamic world, the 16th-century architecture of the Ottoman Empire has few peers. The supreme architect, and the most prolific, was Sinan. With the sixth century church of Haghia Sophia as the inspiration for many of his buildings, the pupil constantly strove to surpass the master in engineering skill and aesthetic refinements.
Bursa, the first major capital of the emerging Ottoman Empire, is now a vibrant and growing city, in an attractive setting at the base of the Uludağ mountain. Beginning the tour in Bursa provides an ideal introduction to the formative period of Ottoman art and architecture, allowing us to understand how early architectural ideas were developed and consolidated on a larger and more confident scale.
At nearby İznik, in the 16th century, during the era of Süleyman the Magnificent, ceramics achieved a peak of perfection, not only in tableware but also in tiles. The techniques developed at this time survived into the 20th century and continue to be practised today.
Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, was the largest city in the world both in late antiquity and in the Middle Ages. Its fall to the Ottomans in 1453 put their empire on a level with the contemporary Safavid and Mughal empires. Deeply fascinating and historically complex, the city bears the imprint of many cultures, while mosques and minarets continue to dominate its skyline.
Edirne, formerly Adrianopolis, is an astonishing town, a once thriving capital, rich in architectural treasures, now beached on a byway and rarely reached by tourists. The greatest of all Sinan’s mosques is here.
Itinerary
Fly at c. 10.50am from London Gatwick to Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) arriving at c. 4.45pm. Drive via the Northern Marmara Highway and the Osman Gazi Bridge to Bursa. First of two nights in Bursa.
Captured from the Byzantines in 1326, Bursa became the first major capital of the Ottoman Empire. While its historic centre preserves many early monuments, the modern city has expanded widely across the plateau below Mount Uludağ. Mosques were built by each Sultan from 1326 to 1451, outstanding being the Yeşil Cami (Green Mosque) and Yeşil Türbe (Green Tomb) with extensive tilework by the Masters of Tabriz. See the mosque and tombs of the Muradiye complex. Situated in the old commercial centre are Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) and the caravanserais whose rents funded the mosques and served the textile trade, famous for its silk velvets. Private shadow puppet performance, popularized during the Ottoman period. Overnight Bursa.
Drive to Iznik, formerly the flourishing Roman town of Nicæa, capital in the 13th century of the Byzantine emperors-in-exile; now a charming and unspoilt country town within concentric circuits of Roman and Byzantine walls. The museum in the beautiful hospice of Nilüfer Hatun tells the story of ceramic production from the Byzantine period to the great frit wares of the 16th century. Continue northwards and re-cross the Bosphorus. First of four nights in Istanbul.
Topkapi Sarayi, the palace of the Ottoman Sultans, is arranged around a series of courtyards. Apart from the magnificent Harem (living quarters of the royal family), other buildings house fine collections of Turkish arts and Chinese porcelain. A fine work by the great Ottoman architect Sinan is the Süleymaniye Mosque, the enormous and elegant complex includes medreses, shops and tombs (currently undergoing restoration) overlooking the Golden Horn.
Begin with monuments of the Byzantine city around the hippodrome, chief of which is Hagia Sophia, greatest of all Byzantine buildings and the inspiration for many Ottoman mosques. The Kariye Camii (St Saviour in Chora) has some of the finest Byzantine mosaics and wall paintings in the world. Optional visit to the old commercial district and Covered Bazaar.
A short walk from the hotel is Yerebatan Saray, a remarkable colonnaded cistern. Continue to a small Sinan mosque, the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Camii and then to the mosque of Rüstem Pasha, also small but brilliantly embellished with tiles. Nearby is the colourful and aromatic spice market. Also visit the Museum of Islamic and Turkish art in the Ibrahim Pasha Sarayi. Fourth and final night in Istanbul.
Travel by private boat along the Bosphorus to Sariyer. Visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, which combines two exceptional private collections, one ethnographic and the other archaeological. Lunch by the Bosphorus. In the afternoonm drive to Edirne – near the border with Greece and Bulgaria – and overnight there.
European capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1453. The Eski Camii (Old Mosque) shows the continuation of one of the traditions established at Bursa. The mosque and hospital complex of Sultan Beyazit II, is delightfully situated on the banks of the Tunca. The Üç Serefeli Mosque was the first Ottoman mosque to have a courtyard, and the first step towards the classical building style of the 16th century, exemplified by the nearby Selimiye Sinan’s masterpiece. Return to Istanbul for the final night.
Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), despite its fame, marks the beginning of the decline of Ottoman architecture. Drive past the massive Byzantine walls. Fly to Gatwick, arriving c. 4.30pm.
Expert speaker
Dr Richard McClary
Dr Richard Piran McClary is a senior lecturer in Islamic Art and Architecture at the University of York. He received his doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and has lectured extensively on a range of subjects related to the art and architecture of Central Asia. His monograph entitled Medieval Monuments of Central Asia. Qarakhanid Architecture of the 11th and 12th Centuries was published in 2020. He is the author of three monographs and has published articles in numerous journals, including: Muqarnas, Iran, Anatolian Studies, Persica, Iraq, and the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. He has served as a trustee and Research Director for the British Institute of Persian Studies and is managing editor of the Journal of Islamic Art and Architecture.
More tours led by Dr Richard McClary
Practicalities
Two sharing: US$6,670 or US$6,370 without flights. Single occupancy: US$7,680 or US$7,380 without flights.
Travel by private coach throughout; hotel accommodation as described below; breakfasts, three lunches and seven dinners with wine, water and coffee; all admissions to sites, museums, etc; gratuities for waiters, drivers, guides; all state and airport taxes; the services of the lecturer and of a local guide.
Mövenpick Hotel and Thermal Spa, Bursa: a modern five-star hotel offering excellent comfort and facilities. Vogue Supreme Hotel, Istanbul: well located in the Sultanahmet area, this locally rated five-star hotel offers elegant rooms and a high standard of comfort. Westdoor Hotel, Edirne: a modern, well-located hotel in Edirne city centre, offering comfortable rooms and convenient facilitie. Single rooms are doubles for sole use throughout.
British, New Zealand, and American ordinary passport holders can travel to Turkey without a visa for visits of up to 90 days. Most other nationals require individual electronic visas, which are not included in the tour price. You will need to apply online in advance.
There is quite a lot of walking within the towns, and paving is uneven. On some days there are several hours of driving. There are three hotel changes. Average distance by coach per day: 66 miles.
Between 12 and 22 participants.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
1st - 9th October 2027
Speaker:
Dr Richard McClary
Price:
from US$6,370
(Based on two sharing)Related tours and events
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