Day 1 :Ottoman heritage and Souphism

We start our day with a visit to the marvelous Topkapi palace, that served as the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries. Optional visits: to the Treasury, where the extensive exhibits include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain, textiles and costumes of the Sultans, as well as to the Harem quarters, which is an absolute highlight.After which you visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its precious ceramics.

After a lunch break in the famous Daruzziyafe Restaurant, which used to be the banqueting rooms of the sultans, and still served some fine ottoman dishes, we visit the Suleyman’s Mosque complex the second largest but by far the finest and most magnificiant of the imperial mosque complexes in the city.It is a fitting monument to its founder, Suleyman the magnificent, and a master work of the greatest of Ottoman architects, the incomparable Sinan.

Then we continue to the area of Eyup, a holly place, where the Mosque and Mausoleum of Eyiip Sultan, located outside the corner where the land walls meet the walls along the Golden Horn, is considered a sacred site for Moslems. Eyiip-el-Ensari was a standard-bearer of Mohammed and he died-here during an Arabic siege of the city in the 7th century. His grave was discovered at the conquest and later the mausoleum and the first mosque in Istanbul were built on this site.

Enjoy the sunset on the Golden Horn, before returning to your hotel.

In the evening, you will assist to a whirling dervishes ceremony, preceeded by a lecture on souphism.

Day 2 : Byzantine and Orthodox heritage

Start your day by visiting the magnificent Haghia Sophia, the perle of Byzance,and then continue to the Greek Patriarchat,which have all the opulence and beauty of any Orthodox church. The church's main boast, aside from its association with the Patriarch, are its artifacts and relics, which include: the patriarchal throne, believed to date from the 5th century; three rare mosaic icons; the Column of Flagellation to which Jesus was tied and whipped; and the tombs of three female saints. before visiting the most interesting Byzantine churches in the city the Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, called in Turkish, Kariye Camii. The mosaics and frescoes are by far the most important and extensive series of Byzantine paintings in the city and among the best and most beautiful in the world.After a lınch break at the famous Asitane Restaurant, we will walk from Taksim to Tunel, to see Haghia Triada built in 1882 by the Russian community and passed on to the greek later on, and the latin church of St Antoine,rebuilt in 1831, followed by window-shopping in the district of Beyoglu and a drink in "Cicek pasaji" before returning to your hotel.

Day 3 : Jewish Heritage

Istanbul has had a vibrant Jewish community for more than 1000 years.

Departure for a visit to Balat district which has been the earliest neighborhood of the Jews from 1492 and on. Star of David can still be noticed on the facades of some of the buildings. Visit the 15th century Ahrida Synagogue whose teva resembles a bow representing the Ottoman ships sent by Sultan Beyazit II who offered safety for the refugees of the Spanish Inquisition. Continue the tour with Yanbol Synagogue which dates back to the Byzantine Period.

Continue to the area of Haskoy, which has the Jewish Home for the Aged, the Kamondo mansion, a large Jewish cemetery which includes the Kamondo mausoleum, and the imperial Ottoman pavilion called the Aynalikavak Kasri.

In the afternoon we see the Ashkenazi Synagogue built in 1900 and after, the Neve Shalom Synagogue
which is the biggest one in Istanbul built in 1951 for the Sepharadic Jews.

We will finish the day with the area around the Galata Tower which is of prime interest to visitors touring the Jewish interest sites. The Galata neighborhood has bustling street life, the numerous synagogues have great historical and artistic value, and all sites are within easy walking distance of one another.