Istanbul: Byzantines and Ottomans

Fly to Istanbul

Fly from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Transfer to the Levni Hotel (or similar) for 6 nights. Evening welcome dinner. (D)

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Istanbul

Morning visit to the Church of Theotokos Kyriotissa (Kalenderhane Camii), Zoodochos Pigi (Silivri Kapi cemetery), Suleymaniye mosque complex, and Basilica of St John of Studius (Imrahor Camii) – the oldest church in Istanbul, erected in 454AD. In the afternoon, see the magnificent mosaics and frescoes of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye Camii) (subject to confirmation), Theotokos Pammakaristos (Fethiye Camii), the Porphyrogenitus Palace ruins, and the Theodocian city walls at Edirne Kapi. (B)

The Princes’ Islands

Take the early morning public ferry to the Princes’ Islands, a nine-island archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, passing Leander’s Tower, ancient Chalcedon and Antigone. Stop at Chalki to visit the Church of St Nikolaos and the Greek Orthodox seminary. Continue to the isle of Prinkipo to visit the Monastery of St George. The final visit of the day is to the Crimea Memorial Church, built in the mid-19th century in memory of fallen British soldiers, where a special drinks reception has been arranged (subject to confirmation). (B)

Istanbul

Take a morning walking tour of Sultanahmet, including Topkapi Palace and the superb collections of the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, view the remains of the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Mosaics Museum and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Hagia Sofia). Visit the Hagia Sofia Grand Mosque, converted following the conquest of the city in 1453 and once the centre of Orthodox Christianity. (B)

Edirne

Full day's sightseeing in Edirne, once known as Adrianople and the Ottoman capital prior to 1453. Visit the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the nearby Old Mosque; Sultan Bayezid II Complex; Ali Pasha Bazaar; and the Macedonian Tower. (B)

Istanbul

Morning visit to the Church of Theotokos Panaghiotissa (known as Mouchliotissa), the only Byzantine church in the city still belonging to the Greek Orthodox patriarchate. Continue around the old Greek district of Fener, including the Cathedral of St George. This afternoon, visit the Basilica Cistern and the lively Grand Bazaar, then conclude with a stop at the garden of the sacred shrine and spring, Ayazma Blachernae, dating back to 451AD. Evening farewell dinner in the historic Eminönü district. (B, D)

Fly to London

Morning walking tour of Beyazit, the Third Hill and the old city centre. Fly from Istanbul to London Heathrow with British Airways. (B)

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Fly to Istanbul

Fly from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Transfer to the Levni Hotel (or similar) for 6 nights. Evening welcome dinner. (D) Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Istanbul

Morning visit to the Church of Theotokos Kyriotissa (Kalenderhane Camii), Zoodochos Pigi (Silivri Kapi cemetery), Suleymaniye mosque complex, and Basilica of St John of Studius (Imrahor Camii) – the oldest church in Istanbul, erected in 454AD. In the afternoon, see the magnificent mosaics and frescoes of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye Camii) (subject to confirmation), Theotokos Pammakaristos (Fethiye Camii), the Porphyrogenitus Palace ruins, and the Theodocian city walls at Edirne Kapi. (B)

The Princes’ Islands

Take the early morning public ferry to the Princes’ Islands, a nine-island archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, passing Leander’s Tower, ancient Chalcedon and Antigone. Stop at Chalki to visit the Church of St Nikolaos and the Greek Orthodox seminary. Continue to the isle of Prinkipo to visit the Monastery of St George. The final visit of the day is to the Crimea Memorial Church, built in the mid-19th century in memory of fallen British soldiers, where a special drinks reception has been arranged (subject to confirmation). (B)

Istanbul

Take a morning walking tour of Sultanahmet, including Topkapi Palace and the superb collections of the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, view the remains of the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Mosaics Museum and the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Hagia Sofia). In the evening, visit the Hagia Sofia Grand Mosque, converted following the conquest of the city in 1453 and once the centre of Orthodox Christianity. (B)

Edirne

Full day sightseeing in Edirne, once known as Adrianople and the Ottoman capital prior to 1453. Visit the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the nearby Old Mosque; Sultan Bayezid II Complex; Ali Pasha Bazaar; and the Macedonian Tower. (B)

Istanbul

Morning visit to the Church of Theotokos Panaghiotissa (known as Mouchliotissa), the only Byzantine church in the city still belonging to the Greek Orthodox patriarchate. Continue around the old Greek district of Fener, including the Cathedral of St George. This afternoon, visit the Basilica Cistern and the lively Grand Bazaar, then conclude with a stop at the garden of the sacred shrine and spring, Ayazma Blachernae, dating back to 451AD. Evening farewell dinner in the historic Eminönü district. (B, D)

Fly to London

Morning walking tour of Beyazit, the Third Hill and the old city centre. Fly from Istanbul to London Heathrow with British Airways. (B)