Program

Day 1: Larnaca - Athens - Istanbul
Meeting at Larnaca airport and departure for Istanbul with a stopover to change aircraft in Athens. Arrival and pickup by our Greek-speaking guide and departure to get to know charming Istanbul. We will start with the consecration of the Virgin of Balukliotisa and the legend with the monk and the fish in the mantato of the Aloss of the City. Alongside the Byzantine land walls of Theodosius we will go to Panagia of Blacherna, here the "Akathistos Hymn" was sung. We continue to our hotel and settling. Free time for dinner at Pera's restaurants.

Day 2: Princely Town (Halki and Prince) Dolma Baxe - Ortakii
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 Bostanzi and boarding the boat for the island of Chalkis, 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 Prince, where we will stroll through its picturesque streets. At noon we recommend a meal at a seaside tavern with delicious appetizers and seafood. On our return we will cross the famous Bagdad Boulevard - the most beautiful and most fashionable and expensive street on the Asiatic side - we will cross the bridge and come to Europe again. We continue to visit Dolma Baxe, the palace that was the last and probably 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 at the coastal, picturesque village of Ortakioi, 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 - Hagia 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 God Sophia with the theorized dome. We continue to the famous Topkapi Palace, a unique museum with sultan weapons, jewels and costumes of incredible opulence. 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. We will then walk to the famous Great Covered Market - today it has 100 alleys and 4,000 fancy small shops. Free time to explore and do your shopping. Late in the afternoon we return to our hotel.

Day 4: Pera Walking Tour - Bosphorus Cruise - Egyptian Market
After breakfast we will walk along the Great Street of Peran, 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, along the way we will see many historical buildings such as the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Sismanoglio Megaro, the Flower Gallery, the Galata High School. We will then board a boat for a cruise on the waters of the Bosphorus. We will see the fine seaside buildings of the Turkish aristocracy, the Dolma Bakse palaces, the Siragan Sarai, 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 hanging bridges and the Romilia fortress. Return to Eminonu and visit the famous Egyptian market or Spice market. Free time in the small streets with the bustling bazaar and small restaurants. Return to our hotel. For the evening, we recommend a walk to the elegant Nisantasi, famous for its fancy 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 Genus - Chora Monastery - Athens-Larnaca
Breakfast and we depart for the Orthodox Patriarchate, we will see the Closed Gate, place of martyrdom of Patriarch Gregory V, the Patriarchal House and we will worship at the patriarchal church of Agios Georgios, admiring the gilded old wood-carved iconostasis, the rare icon of Panagia Pammakaristos and other sacred relics. Free time to go to Fanari where we will see the outside of the Great School of Genus. We continue to the Monastery of 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 with one more dream to be fulfilled.