3 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS HIGHLIGHTS OF ISTANBUL

09th Jun – ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL AND PRIVATE TRANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL.
Overnight at: https://www.titanic.com.tr/titanic-city-taksim or similar 4 stars hotel for 3 nights on
bed & breakfast basis.

10th Jun – PRIVATE BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS & BOSPHORUS CRUISE BY PUBLIC FERRY
In the morning sightseeing tour in the old city of
Constantine, Istanbul starts 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. Followed
by a visit to the masterpiece of
Byzantine architecture St. Sophia
operates as mosque today. The
splendor of the interior decoration, the massiveness of its architectural proportions
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. Then only a short walk away, Sultan Ahmed
Mosque (Blue Mosque) is the only mosque with six minarets
in Istanbul. Called as blue mosque by foreigners because of
the dominant color of more than 20.000 Iznik tiles decorating
the spacious interior The Mosque is regarded as the peak
achievement of Ottoman architecture. The highlights of the
afternoon are a visit to the magnificent Topkapi Palace which
is the only palace remaining from the Ottomans reflecting the
splendor of the once mighty empire. End the day with a visit to the incredible Grand Bazaar.
Enjoy the Bosphorus Cruise on a
public ferry (also known as Gypsy
Boat) passing half a dozen Ottoman
imperial palaces, traditional Yalis
(waterside villas) and shore villages.

11th Jun – PRIVATE ECLECTIC TOUR OF ISTANBUL
This private tour includes a perfect visit to the Galata
Tower built by the Genoese in 1348. The Old Pera was
given to them by the Ottoman Empire because of their
help in defeating a Crusade. After a short gentle walk
we take the oldest
functioning metros in
the world. The
“Tunnel”, Completed
in 1873, it is the
shortest metro ever
built which connects
Karakoy to Beyoglu, followed by a local window-shopping if you
would like to experience. We will visit the Galata Mevlevi Lodge
(Galata Mevlevihanesi) is an exciting museum showcases variety of
Turkish calligraphic art items, music items and items belonging to the
Mevlevi cult ure. Gentle walk to Taksim Square then drive into the
colorful sights, vibrant sounds and intriguing scents of the Egyptian
Bazaar (Spice Market).  Near the mighty Hagia Sophia Basilica and the magnificent Topkapi Palace, Hodjapasha Cultural Center
is a delightful piece of the city’s striking cultural mosaic. Transformed from a large 15th-century
hamam (Turkish bath), it now welcomes visitors under its high dome ceilings to showcase some of the
best of this vast country’s traditions.
Sufi whirling is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which
is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance performed within
the Sema, or worship ceremony, through which dervishes (also called semazens) aim to reach the
source of all perfection, or kamala. This is sought through abandoning one’s nafs, egos or personal
desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one’s body in repetitive circles, which
has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun. As explained by
Sufis. In the symbolism of the Sema ritual, the semazen’s camel’s hair hat (sikke) represents the
tombstone of the ego; his wide, white skirt represents the ego’s shroud. By removing his black cloak,
he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the Sema, by holding his arms crosswise, the
semazen appears to represent the number one, thus testifying to God’s unity. While whirling, his arms
are open: his right arm is directed to the sky, ready to receive God’s beneficence; his left hand, upon
which his eyes are fastened, is turned toward the earth. The Semazen conveys God’s spiritual gift to
those who are witnessing the Sema. Revolving from right to left around the heart, The Semazen
embraces all humanity with love.

12th June – PRIVATE TRANSFER TO AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT BACK HOME.
End of the service.