Classics Istanbul Tour

It is located at the Sultanahmet Square, opposite the Hagia Sophia. The Blue Mosque is one of the most famous religious buildings of the world famous for its 6 minarets. The mosque is one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It  has become one of the greatest tourist attractions of Istanbul. The location of the mosque is just opposite the Hagia Sophia as if it is trying to compete with it.

The Hippodrome was built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD and Constantine the Great enlarged and adorned it with beautiful works which were brought from different places of the Roman Empire when he chose Byzantium as his new capital.

Although there is not much left from the original building except the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine and Constantine Columns, according to the excavations carried out, the hippodrome was 117 m / 384 ft wide and 480 m / 1575 ft long with a capacity of 100,000 spectators.

Hippodrome was not only used for races but also for public meetings. It is the first stop to visit for istanbul tour.

Hagia Sofia means ‘Holy Wisdom’ in English. Emperor Justianian dedicated it to Jesus Christ and said his famous claim ‘Solomon, I have surpassed you!’. Because King Solomon of Israel,  son of King David, built a huge temple of God in Jerusalem (1 Kings chapter 8).

Hagia Sofia was built three different times. The first one was a basilica with a wooden roof and was built in 390 AD. This original church Megale Ecclesia (Great Church) was burned down in a rumpus in 404. Theodosius replaced it with a massive basilica which was burned down in the Nika Revolt against Justinian in 532. Justinian began rebuilding the Hagia Sophia in the same year. The architects were two Anatolian geniuses, Anthemius of Tralles, an engineer and a mathematician and Isidorus of Miletus, an architect. They used materials from all over the empire. In the construction ten thousand workers worked under the supervision of one hundred master builders.

Topkapi Palace was more than just the private residence of the Sultan and his court. It was the seat of the supreme executive and judiciary council, the Divan and the training school, the Palace School. Today it is a museum and one of the most popular spot of istanbul tour.

Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and more than 4,000 shops in a total area of 30,700 m². It attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors per day. The Grand Bazaar was the most vital centre of commerce, handicraft and finance in the Mediterranean and Near East for centuries. Today it is the most popular shopping centre for tourists where they can find all kinds of traditional Turkish goods. It is an indispensable stop for Istanbul tours.