Treasures of Istanbul (Half-day Tour)

First visit is to the Roman Hippodrome to see the Serpentine Column, the Egyptian Obelisk and then visit St. Sophia, the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century. Proceed to the magnificent Topkapi Palace to see the unique crown jewelry, Chinese porcelain and exquisite  displays of clothing,dating back many hundreds of years.Last visit will be to the Covered Bazaar to explore the maze of over 4’000 tiny shops selling leather, copper, carpet, antiquities, souvenirs and jewelry.

Bosphorus Cruise by Private Boat (Half-day Tour) Sail up the Bosphorus, the waterway between Europe and Asia, as far as the Black Sea passing under the suspension bridges and viewing Ottoman summer palaces, waterside mansions and modern villas which line the European and Asian coasts. Also pass by the15th century fortress built before Istanbul was conquered by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. Disembark at a small village near the Black Sea and return to Istanbul by motorcoach.

Ottoman Relics (Half-day Tour)

The 17th century Ottoman Blue Mosque is famous for its six minarets and magnificent blue Iznik tiles which line its interior. The next visit is to the magnificent Topkapi Palace, housing the richness of 700 years of the Ottoman Empire. Collection of jewels, porcelains, clothing and armory will be seen. Last visit is to the Suleymaniye Mosque; “Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificient”  to witness the superiority of Archtiect Sinan; best architect of all times during Ottoman Period. Byzantine Marvels of Art (Half-day Tour) Visit the 5th century Byzantine Basilica, St. Sophia Museum which is one of the great architectural marvels of the ancient world; the underground cistern with a storage capacity for 80,000 tons of water for the old city and the Hippodrome, once the chariot race track of the Byzantine and Romans. See the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. The last visit is to the Church of St. Saviour in Chora to see the world famous frescoes and mosaics.

THE PRINCES’ ISLANDS (Full-day Tour)

Our first destination is Büyükada, the largest of the island chain, but we will pass by four other islands on the way. All are famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation and ornate Ottoman houses. The preferred means of transportation is the charming horse-drawn carriage known as the phaeton, which we will use on our circular tour of Büyükada, passing elegant mansions. Lunch will be at one of the many excellent traditional fish-restaurants on the waterfront, gazing across the water at the Asian shore of Istanbul, so close though it feels worlds away.

Istanbul Modern Art Museum : (Turkish: Istanbul Modern Sanat Müzesi), usually just called Istanbul Modern, is a museum for contemporary art in Istanbul, Turkey, inaugurated in 2004. The museum, located in a converted warehouse in the Tophane district on the Bosporus, is the first of its kind in Turkey. It is easily reached by the city's tram system. Istanbul Modern has exhibitions on two floors. The museum's permanent exhibition is, along with the shop and the restaurant, located on the top floor. The changing exhibitions are located on the lower floor, along with the cinema and library. The permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits showcase many of the most famous Turkish Painters. The museum also has an extensive library and a full-service restaurant.

The Istanbul Archaeology Museum : (Turkish: Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzesi) is an archeological museum, located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, Turkey, near Gülhane Park and Topkapi Palace. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum actually consists of three museums.

Those are the main Archeology Museum, the Old Eastern Works Museum and the Enameled Kiosk Museum. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum : (Turkish: Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzesi) is an archeological museum, located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, Turkey, near Gülhane Park and Topkapi Palace. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum actually consists of three museums. Those are the main Archeology Museum, the Old Eastern Works Museum and the Enameled Kiosk Museum. It houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history. When the Museum opened to the public in 1891, it was the first Museum to feature Turkish art. The first curator was Osman Hamdi Bey, who was also the founder of the museum. It was among the 10 important buildings in the world in lately 19th century. Upon its 100th anniversary in 1991, the Museum received the European Council Museum Award, particularly for the renovations made to the lower floor halls in the Main Building and the new displays in the other buildings.

Gala Dinner has honored by Ayten ALPMAN