Unusual Istanbul Tour

Departure from Italy with Pegasus Airlines flights. Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet with the local assistant and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in reserved rooms, free dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

50%

Nature

50%

History

50%

Relax

50%

Adventure

30%

Byzantine Istanbul
Breakfast and morning departure to explore Byzantine Istanbul (half-day tour): we begin with a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque, considered the most beautiful Imperial Mosque in all of Istanbul. Built by Sinan, the most important architect of the Ottoman Empire's golden age.

We will continue the tour with a visit to the Ancient Walls of Constantinople, currently known as the Mevlana Gate. Constructed by Emperor Theodosius II in 413, these ancient, solid walls, several stories high and between three to six meters thick, protected the city from attacks by Goths, Bulgarians, Russians, Arabs, and Turks. The walls were breached only twice, by the Crusaders in 1204 and by Mehmet "The Conqueror" in 1453.

The tour proceeds with a visit to the Monastery of the Virgin of the Springs, a church built, according to historians Procopius and Cedrenus, by Emperor Justinian in the final years of his reign near a water source known as the "Fountain of Miracles," located outside the walls of Theodosius II, near today's Silivri Gate.

The day concludes with a visit to the Eminönü district, once the main gateway to the city, now a bustling area known for hosting the "Egyptian Market," also called the "Spice Bazaar."
Free lunch and an afternoon at leisure to explore the city.

• Optional Excursion (available for an additional fee)

Bosphorus Cruise to end the day and discover more of Istanbul's beauties on both the Asian and European sides of the city, including significant palaces, mosques, and fortresses. Return to the hotel at your leisure, free dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

50%

Nature

50%

History

50%

Adventure

20%

Food

30%

Breakfast and departure to discover the “Golden Horn.” We will head to the picturesque and colorful districts of Fener and Balat, protected by UNESCO and considered the first settlements of ancient Constantinople.

Next, we will drive along the shores of the Golden Horn and visit the Iron Church of St. Stephen, a Bulgarian Orthodox church in a Turkish city, associated with the struggle for ecclesiastical independence during the 1830s and 1840s, and the only iron Orthodox church in the world.

The tour continues with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, featuring over 4,500 shops grouped into specialized sections for various products such as jewelry, clothing, and more. Free lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

• Optional Excursion (available for an additional fee)

You may join an excursion to discover Classical Istanbul, which we highly recommend.

Culture

30%

Nature

30%

Relax

50%

Food

30%

Breakfast (subject to the departure time) and free time until the transfer to the airport, ensuring ample time to complete boarding formalities. Departure for Italy.