Day 2-Arrival at Turkey | Istanbul (30/11/22) Bolu Hampton by Hilton

Upon arrival at Istanbul early morning, board coach and begin our first day of itinerary, our tour leader is Mr Farat, driver Mr Murat and CTC travel Anna.

Turkey also called Türkiye, country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Throughout its history it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents. Istanbul, Turkish İstanbul, formerly Constantinople, ancient Byzantium, largest city and principal seaport of Turkey. It was the capital of both the Byzantine Empire and glorious history of the Ottoman Empire.

Our first stop is Hagia Sophia, also called Church of the Holy Wisdom or Church of the Divine Wisdom, an important Byzantine structure in Istanbul and one of the world’s great monuments. It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century CE (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I.

In subsequent centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. The building reflects the religious changes that have played out in the region over the centuries, with the minarets and inscriptions of Islam as well as the lavish mosaics of Christianity.

With a history of more than 1,500 years, the great architectural beauty and an important monument for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and is listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

Hippodrome, ancient Greek stadium designed for horse racing and especially chariot racing.

Sultanahmet Square or the Hippodrome of Constantinople is a square in Istanbul, Turkey. Previously, it was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos, horse, and dromos, path or way. Hippodrome of Constantinople, which comprises 3 monumental columns and one fountain.

The Topkapı Palace, or the Seraglio, is a large museum in the east of the Fatih district of Istanbul in Turkey. It was served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans. Today the palace is a large museum with a wide collection of kitchen wares, porcelains, Royal Antiques, Holy Religious Relics etc.

The first courtyard of the Topkapi palace extends from Imperial Gate to Salutation Gate while the second courtyard is from Salutation Gate to Felicity Gate. At the second courtyard, there is a Justice Tower where the Sultan would stand and witness executions taking place. However, the best part of the Topkapi Palace is actually the view of the Bosphorus River

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. An outstanding representative of architecture and art in the Ottoman Empire, with a history of more than 400 years, the entire building does not use a single nail, it is most magnificent building in Turkey –Sultan Ahmed Mosque.