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IMPERIAL TOUR 1
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Highlights of This Tour: |
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The fabled capital of three great empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, Istanbul is steeped in almost 3,000 years of history. The greatest concentration of landmarks is found in Istanbul's oldest district, Sultanahmet, an awe-inspiring expanse of leafy parks, Byzantine cathedrals, Greek statuary, bustling bazaars and imposing mosques with towering, slender minarets.
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Daily Morning Tour - Itinerary: |
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Starting with a drive around the Golden Horn and the great walls of Constantinople, we pass Dolmabahce Palace, then cross the Galata Bridge before arriving in Sultanahmet Square, where we visit.
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Hagia Sophia*: The former spiritual heart of the Byzantine Empire, considered to be the 8th Wonder of the World, Hagia Sophia is now a museum.
* Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays, so on that day we visit the Kariye (Chora) Museum, a former church which houses the most important surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in the world.
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The Blue Mosque: Dating from the 17th century, an architectural masterpiece famed for its exquisite blue tiles and six elegant minarets.
The Hippodrome: Once the site of Roman chariot racing and Janissary uprisings, this historic square also contains an Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and ornamental fountain presented to the Sultan by German Emperor Wilhelm II
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The Grand Bazaar: An exotic maze of narrow alleys, stunning architectural details and hundreds of shops selling a rich assortment of handmade carpets, gold, silver, leather and other precious goods.
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