sightseeing and excursions istanbul

Bosphorus Cruise

BOSPHORUS:

During the Byzantine period, when the villages along the Bosphorus strait had no roads linking them to each other, the people earned their living from fishing and gardening. The Ottoman sultans later had several palaces and villas built on these shores.

European side:

Dolmabahce Palace with its eclectic structure reflecting western architectural styles, was built on The Bosphorus in the19th century. Next is the Besiktas area where stands the statue and tomb of Captain Barbaros Hayrettin in front of the Naval Museum and near the Museum of Fine Arts. On this side of the Bosphorus are many buildings by the Balyan family of architects, the most significant of which is the Çiragan Palace.This palace suffered great damage by fire in the late 19th century and lay in ruin until recently when it was restored and made into a hotel. The seaside gateway of the Yildiz Palace and Gardens is also here.
Further along the shore are the Feriye palaces, then Ortaköy Square and Ortaköy mosque, an attractive location where one feels the texture of the city at its best. Next, passing under the great columns of the Bosphorus Bridge, you pass by Kuruçesme, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumelihisari (fortress), Emirgan, Üstinye, Yeniköy, Tarabya, Kirecburnu, Büyükdere and Sariyer, finally reaching the end of the European side of the of the Bosphorus at Rumeli Kavagi, last point before the entrance of the Black Sea.

Asian side:

Opposite Rumeli Kavagi is Anadolu Kavagi on the Asian side of the mouth of the Bosphorus. South along the shore past Yusa Hill is Beykoz. Though it is quite a distance from city center, Istanbul residents usually go to eat the best fish at Beykoz. Next is Pasabahçe famous for its glass and bottle factories as well as liquor factories of the state monopoly. After Pasabahce are Çubuklu and Anadoluhisar (Anatolian Fortress) famed for the good quality of clay on the shores of the Göksu and Küçüksu, freshwater rivers that flow into the Bosphorus.

PALACE OF DOLMABAHCE

Dolmabahce Palace, a shore palace built by the brothers Nikagos and Karabet Balyan in 1853 for the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid II, was the most monumental work of the time. Its construction lasted for 11 years costing five million Ottoman gold pieces, the equivalent of 35 tonnes of gold. The Palace was the official residence of several Ottoman Sultans in the 19th and early 20th centuries. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Dolmabahce Palace remained empty till Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of turkey, took up residence there. Ataturk stayed in the palace between 1 July 1927 and 10 November 1938. His bed-chamber where he died in 10 November 1938 was in the Harem section. Today Dolmabahce is a museum under the auspices of the Department of National Palaces of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Highlights of the city I.

The tour of the Old City is alive with history,culture and architecture dating back to Roman and Ottoman times. The first stop of the day is at the church of the Divine Wisdom-Hagia Sophia from the 6th century. Although constructed as a church by Emperor Justinian, it was later in the 15th century transformed into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror, and proclaimed a museum by Atatürk in 1935. The tour continues on with the magnificient Blue Mosque, named so because of the Iznik tiles that line the walls from 17th century. And first part of the tour end by the Hippodrome.

Highlights of the city II.

Tour starts with the visit to Topkapı Palace which was the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. Built in 1453 many sultan played out the drama of the Ottoman sovereign here. The tour of the palace includes visits to the great palace kitchen with its collection of chinese celadon porcelain and the imperial. The next stop is Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest covered market housing thousands of shops selling a variety of goods ranging from gold and silver to leather as well as handcrafts and colorful souvenirs.

Half Day Golden Horn and Chora Church

The morning is spent visiting the historic church of St. Savior in Chora which was built as the Church of St. Savior in Chora by Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It took its contemporary shape in the 11th century. Logotet Theodoros Metochites produced the frescoes and mosaics, which today constitute one of the world's most important examples of early Byzantine pictorial art. The mosaics tell the story of the New Testament from the birth of The Virgin Mary to a magnificent scene showing the Resurrection of Christ. The building was turned into a mosque during the reign of Bayezit II. The guests will be taken to the Eyup Mosque. It is named in memory of Eyyub el-Ensari, a saint who died amartyr during the siege of Istanbul by the Omeyyads in 668. The Mosque complex was built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror around the shrine to Eyüp. Since then it has been the mosque Most frequently visited by the Muslim population of the city on occasions of marriage, circumcision and death. Its importance is also indicated by the fact that the sword- girding ceremonies of The Ottoman sultans were conducted here. The complex, which Was enlarged by various sultans, includes a university, soup Kitchen and bathhouse. It has remained in its present form Since Ahmet I. The tour will continue with Pierre Loti who the French poet lived and has an excellent panoramic view to the Golden Horn.

HISTORICAL TURKISH BATH / CAGALOGLU HAMMAMI

Located in Cagaloglu on the right side of the Yerebatan Street, these baths were built by Sultan Mahmut I in 1741 to provide revenue for Ayasofya Mosque. The architect is unknown.
Cagaloglu Hamam is a double hamam with section for both men and women. It was unique in its employment of Baroque and Classic Ottoman architectural motifs and was the last of the great hamams to be built before their construction was forbidden by Sultan.
The Cağaloğlu hamam was constructed in 1741 and is the last hamam to be built after a long period during the Ottoman Empire. It was constructed in İstanbul Eminönü, in Alemdar, on Hilal-i Ahmer street as a çifte public hamam to bring revenue for the library of Sultan Mahmut the first situated inside the mosque of Ayasofya. When we take a look at the names of the head architects of that time we can say that it was begun by Süleyman Ağa finished by Abdullah Ağa. It is the last example of its kind to be built in İstanbul and is a successful hamam that is still operational in our time. The door of the women’s section is on a side street called Hamam while the mens' entrance is from the main road with two marble columns with classic stalactite capitals on both sides. In time when the street was elevated, the mens’ section is reached by a staircase of 10 steps. The architecture of the door is contrary to eclectic Turkish style. On the tablet above the door is a long inscription of 7 lines and 28 verves.
What to Expect
For those of you who have never been to a hamam, this is how it works: Go to the changing room and undress completely. Put on the slippers and wrap the "Pesdimal" cloth around your waste. Go into the hamam "Sweating Section". In the middle of the room there is a large marble stone. Lie on the warm stone for 15-20 minutes to allow your body temperature to rise. The Kesaci (male for the men and female for the ladies) will then summon you for your "Kese" and begin to scrub your body with a "Kesa", an ancient invention made of woven goat hair. You will be amazed to see your dead skin rolling off your body. (TIP: Do not wash your body or hair with soap before this procedure as the soap will coat your skin and the kese will not work as well). When this short procedure is complete, the Keseci lathers you body with rich olive oil soap while he/she massages your from head to toe. Then they usually say finished, but that does not mean you are finished - it means he/she is finished. You will then move to the "Kourna" (basin) where you can rinse yourself with warm fresh water. You won't believe how smooth your skin feels! Next you can go on to the "Massage Section" for your massage (usually 20 minutes).
You can stay as long as you like in the hamam. Turkish women can socialize there for hours - and men can stay all day! When you are finished, you put on your new "Pedismal" and go back into the changing room (upstairs) and an attendant will wrap you in hamam towels. Here you can drink a tea or apple tea (hot beverage is recommended). (TIP: Bring your shampoo & toiletries to clean up afterwards.) Relax - you will love it!