Meet with your guide at Istanbul Cruise Ship Port. Your Istanbul Tour Guide will be waiting for you with a name sign, your name is written on. After meeting, drive from Istanbul Port along the seaside passing over Galata Bridge and see Spice Bazaar and Yeni Valide Mosque from car. Drive along the Golden Horn to Chora Church and your guide will explain about history of Istanbul. Today we will visit Byzantium Monuments. The places that we are going to visit are as below
Chora Church was originally built as part of a monastery complex outside the walls of Constantinople in the 4th century. The present building dates from the 11th century and in the early 14th century It’s interior was richly decorated with mosaics and frescoes which are one of the best-preserved collections of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes anywhere.
Byzantium City Walls were the last great fortification system of antiquity. These are a series of defensive stone walls. Istanbul Old City (Constantinople) is a small peninsula was surrounded and protected by Byzantium Fortification Wall.
The Ancient Hippodrome, was the scene of chariot races and constains three monuments: Obelisk of Theodosius,was brought from Karnak Temple (Egypt) to Constantinople and re-erected on the spina of the Hippodrome. Bronze Serpentine Column, is a bronze pillar built in the ancient city of Delphi, Greece, to commemorate those who had fought against the Persian Empire then was later removed and taken to Constantinople. German Fountian of Wilhelm II was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of the German Emperor Wilhelm II’s visit to Istanbul.
Saint Sophia Museum, was built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century as a former Byzantine church and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century then converted into a former Ottoman Mosque after conquest. Afterwards converted into Museum during Republic of Turkey. It is one of the architectual marvels of all time and most of remains are still standing today.
Underground Cistern was built to provide water for the city of Istanbul during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. It is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul.
Grand Covered Bazaar, one of the oldest and biggest Bazaars in the world with more than 4,000 shops are selling, selling souvenirs, rugs & kilims, jewelry, pottery, leather and almost everything. (If your time permits)
At the end of the Istanbul Shore Tours, you will have time to shopping according to your cruise departure time. Then you will be transferred back to Istanbul Cruise Port.