Program

Day 1: LARNACA - ATHENS - ISTANBUL
Gathering at Larnaca airport and departure for Istanbul with a stopover to change planes in Athens. Arrival and pick-up by our Greek-speaking tour guide and departure to explore charming Istanbul. We will start with the holy water of Panagia Baloukliotissa and the legend of the monk and the fish in the mandato of the Fall of the City. Alongside the Byzantine land walls of Theodosius we will go to Panagia Blachernae, here the "Akathistos Hymn" was sung. We continue to our hotel and check in. Free time for dinner in the restaurants of Pera.

Day 2: PRINCE ISLAND (Halki and Pringipo) - DOLMA BAXE - ORTAKIOI
Breakfast and we depart for the Bostanci pier, after first crossing the famous first suspension bridge of the Bosphorus and we will find ourselves on the Asian side of Istanbul. Arrival in Bostanci and boarding the boat for the island of Halki, where we will visit the Holy Trinity and the homonymous Theological School at the top of the "Hill of Hope" and a tour of the school. Then the boat will take us to Pringipo, where we will stroll through its picturesque alleys. At noon we recommend lunch at a seaside tavern with delicious appetizers and seafood. On our way back we will cross the famous Baghdad Avenue - the most beautiful and most modern and expensive street on the Asian side - we will cross the bridge and we will come back to Europe. We continue to visit the Dolmabahce Palace, which was the last and probably the most expensive residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. It has 285 rooms, 44 halls, 68 toilets and 6 hammams and is located along the Bosphorus. Our next stop will be the seaside, picturesque village of Ortakoi, the most beloved part of the city. Free time for a drink and a walk and we return to our hotel. Overnight.

Day 3: HIPPODROME - BLUE MOSQUE - HAYA SOPHIA - TOP KAPI - ROYAL CISTERN - COVERED MARKET
After breakfast we will get to know the most important Byzantine and Ottoman sights. We will start from the Hippodrome, in Sultan Ahmet Square, we will see the imposing Blue Mosque with its impressive six minarets and the magnificent Church of Hagia Sophia with its enormous dome. We continue to the famous Topkapi Palace, a unique museum with sultanic weapons, jewelry and costumes of incredible luxury. Free time for lunch and we continue to the Royal Cistern, the royal aqueduct, which is one of the most impressive sights of the city. Then we will walk to the famous Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi - Gran Bazaar) - today it has 100 alleys and 4,000 fancy little shops. Free time to explore and do your shopping. Late afternoon we return to our hotel.

Day 4: WALKING TOUR OF PERA - BOSPORUS CRUISE - EGYPTIAN MARKET
After breakfast we will walk to the Grand Bazaar, which is one of the most famous streets of the city with a length of about 3 km, full of shops. We will start from Taksim Square and end up in Galata, on the way we will see many historical buildings such as the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Sismanoglio Mansion, the Flower Gallery, the Galata Lyceum. Then we will board a boat for a cruise on the waters of the Bosphorus. We will see the beautiful seaside buildings of the Turkish aristocracy, the Dolmabahce palaces, the Siragan Saray, a former Ottoman palace and now a hotel. On the Asian side we will see Kucuk Su and the imperial Ottoman residence of Sultan Beylerbey, built between 1861-1865, the suspension bridges and the Rumelia fortress. Return to Eminonu and visit the famous Egyptian market or Spice market. Free time in the small alleys with the bustling bazaar and small restaurants. Return to our hotel. For the evening, we recommend a stroll through the elegant Nisantasi, famous for its flashy shop windows, well-kept streets, fine restaurants and elegant cafes, which is a magnet for the city's elite.

Day 5: PATRIARCHATE - GREAT SCHOOL OF THE GENEALOGY - MONASTERY OF THE COUNTRY - ATHENS - LARNACA
Breakfast and we depart for the Orthodox Patriarchate, we will see the Closed Gate, the place of martyrdom of Patriarch Gregory V, the Patriarchal House and we will worship at the patriarchal church of Saint George, admiring the gilded old wooden carved iconostasis, the rare icon of Panagia Pammakaristos and other holy relics. Free time to wander around the Lighthouse where we will see the exterior of the Great School of the Genea. We continue to the Monastery of the Chora with its rare mosaics. Finally, transfer to Istanbul airport where we will take the flight to Larnaca with a stopover to change aircraft, with beautiful memories and another dream coming true.