Byzantium in Istanbul

What to expect

Istanbul through the centuries
You will visit the most interesting sights of Istanbul that have been preserved since the time of the Byzantine Empire. The excursion program includes:

• Hagia Sophia Cathedral — the most important symbol of the city, which will impress you with graceful arches, colored marble, and decorative mosaics. I will share the history of its construction and decipher its architectural features.

• Hippodrome of Constantinople — in the past, one of the most magnificent structures of the city. You will learn how it is connected with the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, why it was called the "Great Circus," and what has been preserved from it to this day.

• Basilica Cistern — an ancient underground water reservoir found under the foundation of a huge mansion. You will understand how water entered the cistern and examine its marble columns and capitals.

• Church of Saint Irene — the oldest Christian monastery in the city, founded during the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. You will understand why it is built in the shape of a cross and dedicated to the "Holy Peace."

• Mosaic Museum and Grand Palace of Constantinople — you will see mosaics preserved from the Byzantine Great Imperial Palace. There are 80 million glass, terracotta, and limestone cubes — up to 40,000 pieces per 1 sq.m. Experts assume that the find represents only 1/8 of the original.