7 Days in Istanbul ? Cappadocia
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul, private transfer to your hotel.
Day 2: Walking Tour in Sultanahmet;
The old city of Constantine Istanbul sightseeing tour in the morning begins with Hippodrome Square where chariot races were once held in Roman Age and today one can see the Obelisk from Egypt, the Fountain of Wilhelm II and the Colossus, Serpentine Column from Delphi and the marvelous Underground Cistern built in order to solve water supply problem nearby. St. Sophia operates as museum today, followed by a visit to the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. The massiveness of its architectural proportions and the splendor of the interior decoration, being unusual for a church and the most important of all, the height of its central dome has amazed everyone since it was first constructed. Sultanahmed Mosque, only a short walk away, is the only mosque with six minarets in Istanbul. Because of the dominant color of more than 20.000 ?znik tiles decorating the spacious interior, called as blue mosque by foreigners. The Mosque is regarded as the higgest success of Ottoman architecture. The highlights of the afternoon is a visit to the magnificent Topkap? Palace which is the only palace remaining from the Ottomans reflecting the splendor of the once mighty empire.
Day 3: Bosporus Cruise with commuter ship and Bazaars tour
Visit the magnificent and colorful Spice Market which was the biggest spice mall of the middle east when the silk road was still functioning before the Suez channel and the route below Africa invented by the Portuguese… the tour will include a short Bosporus cruise for an hour approximately giving us a chance to see the beautiful Bosporus mansions and old houses reflecting us the late Ottoman era architecture. We are going to experience the world’s second oldest subway, after the cruise; Tunel which literally means Tunnel that will take us to contemporary Istanbul; Beyoglu region. A gentle walk up to the Taksim square will give us opportunity to see todays Istanbul and lunch can be haven at one of the restaurants along the way., walk down to the Galata tower, built by the Genoese in 1348, after lunch. Because of their help in defeating a Crusade, The Old Pera was given to them by the Ottoman Empire. After a short gentle walk we will get to Karakoy area to meet with our driver to take us back home…
Day 4: Splendors of Istanbul tour
Our excursion in Istanbul begins with a real jewel of Byzantine decorative art of the late period. We will discover the beautiful mosaics of the church St. Savior in Chora which tell us all the life cycles of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary. This church is known as one of the best examples of late middle age and pre-renaissance. The Suleymaniye Mosque is the next visit. This mosque complex is Architect Sinan’s most splendid work, built at the top of the Ottoman Empire. In the work called the Biography of the Construction, architect Sinan recounts the opening of the Mosque, and how the Sultan asked him to be the one to unlock its doors. Suleymaniye is not an ostentatiously decorated building, only a bare amount of tiles decorate its walls. It is said that the 10 balconies and 4 minarets of the Mosque represent Suleyman the Magnificent being the 4th Sultan to reign in Istanbul and the 10th Ottoman Sultan. We will stroll in the narrow streets of Suleymaniye where we will feel like time stopped in 16th century. Our gentle walk in Suleymaniye will take us to the Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi), the world’s oldest “shopping mall”, to look for treasures in its 4000 shops
Day 5: Private transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport and flight to Cappadocia, pick up from the airport and private tour of Cappadocia
In the morning, we are meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia, starting with the rock formations beyond imagination in Devrent valley; Walking in Zelve Open Air Museum: a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses; visit Pa?abag –three coned fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”. Lunch is in Avanos, center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. In the afternoon visit the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Göreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th & 13th century). It is recommended to have Turkish coffee right across the red valley to relax before returning to your hotel. Göreme Open Air Museum visit time can be altered, depending on the period of the season, to avoid crowds of tour buses. Dark Church is also included in this tour.
Day 6: Cappadocia Tour
Red Valley is in the heart of Cappadocia, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, but away from the tourist crowd. Rock-Cut hermit churches with frescoes and paintings fit with the Valley’s meditative atmosphere, remained intact since the beginning. Our lovely hike will start from a beautiful panoramic point presenting us great light in the morning for pictures. After the hike we give a refreshment break in Cavusin village which will be complemented by a visit to the first church of the region; John the Baptist. Cavusin Church is also in our list to avoid from Tourist buses. Lunch is in a local house in Avanos, center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. After lunch, 20 minute drive will take us to the least visited Underground city; Ozkonak which was discovered by a villager while he was looking for the water disappearing from his irrigation system in his field. Unlike other underground cities, Ozkonak has different ventilation and security system. 4 of the 8 floors is open to visitors and believed to shelter 60,000 people from persecution and loots.
Day 7: Cappadocia Tour
In the morning, we will continue our amazing journey to Soganli Valley, which is truly is the last of the line of villages in the valleys south of Urgup, and the most traditional one. Its isolation meant it was the ideal place for Byzantines to build monasteries, which they inhabited until at least the 1750’s. The locally made doll is the symbol of the village. A local woman lost her baby and, unable to cope emotionally, made a rag doll to take its place. Later on, the women of the village developed the art of making these dolls while their men were out on the mountains grazing their animals. A Soganli doll is a must for every doll collection. After a very local lunch at Soganli, we drive towards Sinasos ( Mustafapasa) an old Greek Village. En route will have small photo breaks like at Roman necropolis, Taskinpasa, a 900 years old village that shows its Seljuk roots in its Medrese (theological school) and a mosque. Keslik Monastery, which houses the well-preserved 9th century Chapel of St. Stephen, several refectories and the Archangel Chapel; and Cemil Village, home to descendents of the village’s earliest Orthodox Christians. Lastly before Mustafapasa, we will visit one of the most interesting findings of the region new excavation site Sobessos latest layer stands from east Roman period with mosaics a “first” in the region.
Day 8: Private Transfer to Nevsehir Airport for a flight to Bodrum, Marmaris or Gocek over Istanbul or direct flight to Izmir and Private transfer to your boat . Check in to your gullet.