About this experience
The history of Istanbul is not only the Byzantine period, but also the heyday of the Ottoman Empire. That very 'Magnificent Century' is no accident that a series was even shot about this milestone. Such a number of beautiful stories about human destinies and architectural structures was not known in every century, and extracting them from the old Ottoman archives, I will reveal to you the Muslim side of Istanbul, no less interesting than everything that the ancient city on the Bosphorus is rich in.
What to expect
A different history of Istanbul
Facts from the city's history are a classic of any overview tour, but I will introduce you to well-known facts as foreigners see them and as Turks see them. And you will be able to compare these versions and delve deeper into the culture of Muslim Istanbul and see much more not through the eyes of a visitor, but through the perception of people who lived in the city in the Magnificent Century. With my help, you will be able to unravel the tangle of different threads of Istanbul's history, where Ottoman and Byzantine, state and human, bloody and amazingly peaceful interweave.
Theodosius Cistern
Where did the Byzantines store water and why did they need it? I will answer this question for you when visiting the Theodosius Cistern. No, not the famous Basilica. The Theodosius Cistern is 100 years older than the Basilica and unfairly overlooked. But we will correct this mistake!
The palaces of the sultans and the fates of their inhabitants
You will learn how the construction of the famous Blue Mosque proceeded and what actually happened on the site where it originated, what happened to the Byzantine mosaics in Hagia Sophia and why it happened. Explore the entire Topkapi Palace and its rooms, and I will tell stories about each column, pillar, and fountain in it, with beautiful and often bloody legends associated with them, show the places where Kösem Sultan was killed — the heroine of the series 'Magnificent Century' — and where the great Suleiman himself rested.
Turkish ambiance
Colorful patterns and elegant Arabic script in mosques, abundance of colors on city streets and in souvenir shops will immerse you in the atmosphere of Istanbul, located on both sides of the strait with its bright blue-green water. And in the Sultan's palace, I will tell you a lively family story!
Organizational details
How the tour goes
- During the tour, an external inspection of the Blue Mosque will be conducted due to its restoration
What is included in the price and what is not
- During this group tour, you will need to pay 6 lira for the rental of headphones for the tour
- Tickets to the Topkapi Palace, as well as to the Theodosius Cistern, are paid for separately
