Tour S1 Topkapi palace (Harem and Selamlik), St.Irine Church, Blue mosque, Hippodrome square, Ibrahim pasha palace (outside), Hammam Hurrem, Sultan (outside)
Topkapi Palace - was built in 1478 by order of Sultan
Mehmed II. The palace remained the main palace of the Ottoman Empire - 25 sultans lived and ruled in it for 400 years.
In the mid-19th century, the sultan's family moved to a new Europeanized residence - Dolmabahce Palace. The Topkapi Palace complex was divided into two parts: "berun" - the welcoming part,
and "enderun" - private apartments (selamlik and harem). Topkapi Palace includes many pavilions, a harem, a library, an armory and treasuries, and more than 65,000 relics on display make it one of the greatest museums in the world. Every year, the Topkapi Museum is visited by at least 2 million people.
Church of Saint Irene- one of the earliest surviving churches in Constantinople, dedicated to the "Holy Peace".
The church is located in the historical center of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet district in the first courtyard of the Topkapi Palace. The building is a new type of basilica for the 6th century in the form of a cross. The narthex of the church was laid out with mosaics from the time of Justinian. Inside there is a sarcophagus, in which, according to legend, the remains of Constantine the Great rest. Hagia Irene was the main temple of the city before the construction of Hagia Sophia, now serves as a concert hall.
The Blue Mosque - is a truly unique building with 6 minarets,captivates with its grandeur and elegance. It was built by order of the Turkish Sultan Ahmed I., construction began in 1609, and was completed only 7 years later.
The best techniques of the Byzantine and classical Ottoman architectural styles were used in the construction of the Blue Mosque. Iznik ceramics, painted with blue and white paints, were used in the decoration of the mosque. There is no more majestic and lushly decorated mosque anywhere in the world! About 5 million people visit the Blue Mosque every year.
Hippodrome Square - is a uniquely preserved monument of the Byzantine period. The hippodrome was built in 203, horse racing was held here. In the 15th-16th centuries, the structure was gradually dismantled for the construction of the Topkapi and Ibrahim Pasha palaces, as well as the foundation of the Sultanahmet Mosque. Nowadays, the Hippodrome is a square-park, in the center of the square there are preserved columns, obelisks, and the German Fountain, a gift to the city and Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
Ibrahim Pasha's Palace - was built in honor of the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire Pargali Ibrahim Pasha, who was the husband of Khatije, the sister of Sultan Suleiman. At the moment, the palace houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, opened in 1938. In it you will see exhibits demonstrating the richness of the Eastern culture - jewelry, weapons, household items, ceramic jewelry, ancient manuscripts and books. The exhibits are so valuable that the museum was awarded the Council of Europe Prize in 1984 and the UNESCO award in 1985.
Hammam Hurrem Sultan - these are historic baths that stand in the very heart of Istanbul, decorating the legendary Sultanahmet Square.
The building is the same age as Suleiman the Magnificent and was actually built by his order in the 16th century.
08:30-15:00 DAILY (except Tuesday)
- TOPKAPİ PALACE (HAREM AND SELAMLİK),
- ST. IRINE CHURCH,
- BLUE MOSQUE,
- HIPPODROME SQUARE,
- IBRAHIM PASHA PALACE (OUTSIDE),
- HAMMAM HURREM, SULTAN (OUTSIDE),
The price of the excursion includes: entrance tickets, transfer and services of a licensed Russian-speaking guide.