Guided
Tours
Hotel
Sapphire is offering the following guided tours to our
valuable guests:
Half Day Tours, Full Day Tours and Anatolia Tours
Please contact the front desk for more information about
these guided tours.
You may also e-mail us at [email protected]
Half
Day and Full Day Tours
ST.
SOPHIA This ancient basilica, built by
Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed
by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural
marvels of all time.
SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE
Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the
architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its
magnificent interior decoration of blue İznik tiles.
HIPPODROME
Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the
three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze
Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.
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TURKISH
& ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM
GRAND COVER BAZAAR In this labyrinth of
streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each
trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the
carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted
ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays,
water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes.
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TOPKAPI
PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman
sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an
exquisite collection of cyrstal, silver, and Chinese
porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the
famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy
Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
SÜLEYMANIYE
MOSQUE The
mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent was built between
1550 and 1557 by the famous architect Sinan whose wish was
to surpass the builders of St. Sophia which is
conspicuous from its great size, emphasized by the four
minarets rising one from each corner of the courtyard.
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CLOSED
St. Sophia - Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum on
Monday / Replaced
with Underground Cistern. Topkapı Palace on Tuesday /
Replaced
with Beylerbeyi Palace
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ST.SOPHIA
BLUE MOSQUE
HIPPODROME
GRAND COVERED BAZAAR
LUNCH
TOPKAPI PALACE
SÜLEYMANİYE MOSQUE
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Also
visioned during the tours:
Aquaduct of Valens, Obelisk of Theodosius,
Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Galata
Bridge, Golden Horn |
BOSPHORUS
ON PRIVATE BOAT
OPERATES BETWEEN 1 JULY - 30 SEPTEMBER
(WITH REGULAR BOAT BETWEEN 1 OCTOBER - 30 JUNE)
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SPICE
BAZAAR:(Egyptian Bazaar)
The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of
cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other
concievable herb and spice. |
BEDESTEN
exhibits the traditional silk weaving courses
carpet weaving courses authorised by the Ministry of
National Education. Possibility to see jewellery,
handicrafts center and leatherware show. Free time
provided for shopping. |
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BOSPHORUS
ON BOAT
A traditional
excursion by boat along the waterway seperating
Europe and Asia.The shore is lined with old wooden
villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small
fishing villages. During the excursion you will
pass the magnificent Dolmabahçe Palace, and
further along, the parks
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and
imperial pavillions of Yıldız Palace. On
the coastal edge of this park, is Çırağan
Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the
shore. At Ortaköy a great variety of artists
gather every Sunday to display their work along
the street. Ortaköy is a symbol of tolerance with
a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side
by side for centuries.
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RUMELİ
FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the
Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of
Istanbul, was completed in only four months to
control and protect Bosphorus. It is one of the
most beautiful works of military architecture
anywhere in the world.
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BEYLERBEYİ
PALACE The summer residence
of Ottoman Sultans with its original
furniture and magnificent gardens with the
HAREM on the ASIAN.
BOSPHORUS
BRIDGE Unique chance to step
from one continent (ASIA) to another
(EUROPE)
ÇAMLICA HILL
The highest point in Istanbul. At
the top of it you can rest and admire the
magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the
Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens,
landscaped in traditional style.
SHOPPING
POSSIBILITY AT BEDESTEN
exhibits the traditional silk weaving girls
at the carpet weaving courses authorised by
the Ministry of National Education
Possibility to see jewellery, handicrafts
center and leatherware show. Free time
provided for shopping.
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CLOSED
Spice Bazaar on
Sunday
Beylerbeyi Palace on Monday
& Thursday / Replaced
with Chora Church and Eyüp Mosque. /
Rumeli Fortress on Wednesday |
SPICE
BAZAAR
BOSPHORUS ON BOAT
RUMELİ FORTRESS
BEYLERBEYİ PALACE
BOSPHORUS BRIDGE
ÇAMLICA HILL
SHOPPING - BEDESTEN
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OPERATES
ALL YEAR
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Cruise
in MARMARA
SEA to
PRINCES'
ISLANDS, retreats
for the Byzantine princes are famous for
their beautiful pine woods and beaches. The
largest and most enjoyable of the islands is
Büyükada. There you can enjoy a ride in a
horsedrawn carriage among the
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pine
trees after relaxing on the beaches in the
numerous coves of its coast. Evening return
to Istanbul and transfer to hotels.
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Operates
Between 1 June - 30 September only on Sunday
Departure
by private boat from Golden Horn and cruise
through Bosphorus seeing the architectural
masterpieces from different times of history
and natural beauties of the Asiatic and
European shores.
Cruise continues passing under the Bosphorus
Bridge and by the Leander's Tower for Büyükada,
most popular amongst the Princes Islands
where lunch will be served at a fish
restaurant.
Swimming possibility depending on the
weather condition.
Evening cruise back to Istanbul transfer to
hotels.
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ALSO
VISIONED DURING THE TOUR
Topkapı
Palace - Leander's tower - Üsküdar
from sea
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In
Istanbul, if you want to live a part of your
holiday which is full of unforgetable memories
in a public bath, to satisfy your longing for
a good massage in a authentic public bath with
a history longer than 400 years, to live the
history in the marble basins under the faucet
in the bath through which the water flows with
the memories of history, join us.
The Turkish bath has tree areas:
1) An area for undressing;
you an take off your clothes in the rooms in
this area and keep your clothes and valuables
locked in those rooms.
2) The cool room;
Skin-rubbing area
3) Heated marble platform;
this area has a part with a heated marble
platform in the center and parts with washing
areas around the platform.
The first thing to do is to lie on the heated
marble platform sweating and to have a
massage, after the massage is over you can lie
down, if you wish, on the marble platform, or
you can rest in your own changing room with
your towel.
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Drive
through illuminated Istanbul and tour on the
Bosphorus coastline. Dinner at a first class
restaurant with half a bottle of wine or a
soft drink included, watching spectacular.
FLOORSHOW of famous BELLY DANCERS, typical
ANATOLIAN Folklore Groups featuring popular
musical einstruments and Turkish singer.
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Operates
on mondays & thursdays
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Chora
Church (Kariye Museum):
A
beautiful example of the beginning of
Byzantine renaissance with its mosaics and
frescoes depicting the scenes from the lives
of the mother of god and christ.
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Eyüp
Mosque: The
holiest mosque of Istanbul dedicated to the
memory of prophet mohammed's Standard-Bearer
Eyüp Ensari. Behing the mosque, there is the
Türbe (Burial Site) of the standard-bearer
which has the most beautiful samples İznic
tiles.
Cafe
Pierre Lotti:
Wonderful
view of Golden Horn and Istanbul. Famous
French author Pierre Loti (1850-1923) came to
this place and wrote a lot of poems about
Istanbul, the Golden Horn and Life in the
Harem, here.
Kariye Museum is closed on Wednesday.
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The
first capital city of The Ottoman Empire!
Departure by ferryboat to YALOVA then drive to
Bursa to visit the Grand Mosque, the Green
Mosque and the Green Mausoleum famous with
their Iznik tiles.
Lunch will be served in a special 'Iskender
Kebap' restaurant.
Also visit the historical Covered Bazaar and
old Silk market, then climb by cable car to
Uludağ (Olympos) mountain overlooking
Bursa for the magnificient panoramic view.
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Anatolia
Tours
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DAY
1: ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA
Morning visit of Ankara with the
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
museum which has the most unique and
priceless collection dating back to
the Prehistoric Era. The Mausoleum of
Atatürk is the next stop.
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This
magnificent structure serves as a
tribute to the founder of modern
Turkey. After lunch drive to
Cappadocia via Salt Lake. Dinner and
overnight in Cappadocia.
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DAY
2: CAPPADOCIA After breakfast
full day tour of Cappadocia begins with the
naturel citadel of Uçhisar which will enable
you to get a panaromic view of the region and
continues with the Göreme valley which is the
highlight of the day houses tge Göreme open
air museum with is churches hewn out of rock
and the colourful frescoes which decorate
them.
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The next stop
is Zelve and the caves of this ancient
village, continuing with the Avanos and
Çavuşin villages. Lunch will be served
at a typical regional restaurant. Dinner and
overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 3: CAPPADOCIA-ANKARA After
breakfast morning visits will begin with the
underground city of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu
which are refuges carved out in the aerly
Christian Era as safeheavens from
persecutors. Lunch will be taken on the way to
Ankara, transfer back to Istanbul in the
evening.
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DAY
1: ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA Morning
tour of Ankara to visit the Hittite Museum and
Mausoleum of Atatürk. After lunch drive to
Cappadocia. Dinner & overnight.
DAY 2:
CAPPADOCIA
After
breakfast, morning visit to the underground
city of Kaymaklı & Citadel of Uçhisar.
After lunch continue with the valley of
"Göreme" open air museum. The last
sites will be Paşabağ valley and
Avanos. Return to hotel for dinner &
overnight.
DAY 3:
CAPPADOCIA / KONYA / PAMUKKALE
Early departure for Konya. On the way
visit the 13th century Seljukian caravanserai
"Sultanhan". The next stop
will be Konya which is famous with Mevlana
Museum and the Theological School of Whirling
Dervishes. Lunch enroute, drive to Pamukkale.
DAY 4: PAMUKKALE
/ APHRODISIAS / KUŞADASI
Breakfast and visit the ancient city of
Hierapolis. The ruins of the biggest
Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world,
Roman Baths, Bazilica and calcium cliffs.
Drive to Aphrodisias. After lunch visit the
Greco-Roman settlement which is remarkably
well preserved. The ancient city is dedicated
to the goddes of Love, Aphrodite. Drive to Kuşadası,
dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: KUŞADASI
/ İZMİR After
breakfast at the hotel drive to Meryemana and
visit the House of Virgin Mary. Continue to
Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor.
Visit the ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the
temple of Hadrian, the magnificient library,
Agora and fantastic greco-roman theatre. After
lunch visit the Basilica of St.John drive to
İzmir.
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THE
MOST FAMOUS AND THE MOST VISITED HISTORIC SITE
IN TURKEY
Early flight to IZMIR, birth place of
Homer, and departure for EPHESUS and visist
the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY, where she spent her
last days. Then, visit EPHESUS, the most
complete ancient city ever excavated. Ypu will
feel yourself as if you were in ancient
Ephesus while you are walking
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through
the FOUNTAINS of POLIO HADRIAN - TRAJAN and
temples of DOMITION AND HADRIAN VARIUS OR
SCHOLASTICA BATHS, BROTHL, CELCIUS LIBRARY,
BOULETORION and the GREAT THEATER. After a
delicious lunch in Selçuk, we will visit the
TEMPLE of ARTEMIS, once one of the Seven
Wonders of the ancient world, St. JOHN
BASILICA and ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM of Ephesus.
Return to Izmir and flight to Istanbul.
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FAMOUS
FOR ITS ONE OF THE LARGEST LIBRARIES AND
MAGICAL CENTERS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.
Early flight to Izmir and drive to
PERGAMUM, once the ancient world's major power
and center of learning and the arts. Visit the
LIBRARY, once held 200.000 bokks, TEMPLE of
ATHENA,
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TEMPLE
of TROJAN, ALTAR of ZEUS, the GYMNASIUM
situated on terraces, the lower AGORA, and the
RED BASILICA dedicated to God Serapis. After
lunch, visit the ARCHEOLOGICAL and the
ETHONOGRAPHICAL MUSEUMS, then the ASCLEPION,
the ancient health center. return to Izmir and
flight to Istanbul.
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NATURAL
WONDER KNOWN AS "COTTON CASTLE"
Early flight to IZMIR, drive to
PAMUKKALE which is unique in the world with is
cascading water from the ciffs forming
crystallized, dazzling white "Frozen
Waterfalls The thermal waters have been used
for therapeutic treatments since the Roman
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period.
You will have time to enjoy the therapeutic
hot spring waters. Then, visit the Roman city.
HIERAPOLIS which contains wonderful necropolis
and the theatre. Return to Izmir and flight to
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Flight
to ANTALYA, visit to Perge Theatre, Agora,
Stadium and Columned Street. Proceed to
ASPENDOS one of the best preserved theatres in
the world. Lunch and swimming break at SIDE
and visit the site, museum, theatre and
temples.
MANAVGAT WATER FALLS before return to ANTALYA.
Dinner and overnight. Flight to Istanbul.
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BY
CAR OR PLANE
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Early
start to the ancient city of TROY, famous
with the legendary TROJAN HORSE from the
times of beautiful Helen and Paris. Ferry
across DARDENELLES Visit to GALLIPOLI,
famous battle-field of ANZACS of World War
I. Late evening return.
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Day
1 Early morning start for
"GALLIPOLI", famous battle-field of
World War I, graveyards and memorials of
ANZACS, Crossing DARDANELLES, lunch at
Canakkale, visit to the ancient city of TROY
and TROJAN HORSE. Walking back to "Bronze
Age" 3000 B. C. at ASSOS, who had hosted
Lydians,
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Persians,
Romans, Byzantians and Ottomans finally,
Dinner and overnight.
Day 2
Start after breakfast. Visit to PERGAMUM,
ancient center of healing and culture,
AESCULAPIUM, built in the name of Aesculapis,
"God Of Medicine". Drive to Izmir,
birthplace of Homer. A short tour of the city.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 3
Start after breakfast and drive to EPHESUS,
famous ancient settlemet, visit to the HOUSE
OF VIRGIN MARY at Mount Solmissos, St. JOHN
BASILICA and TEMPLE OF DIANA, one of the
"Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World". Return back to Izmir. Dinner and
overnight.
Day 4
Start after breakfast, visit to SARDES,
capital of ancient Lydia. View the TEMPLE OF
CYBELE and DIANA, ACROPOLIS. Visit to one of
world's oldest synagogues. drive to BURSA and
Lunch of famous "Kebab of Alexander the
Great" and city tour seeing ULUCAMI
(Grand Mosque), GREEN MAUSOLEUM, GREEN MOSQUE,
OLD SILK MARKET. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5
Start after breakfast. Cable-Car (Teleferik)
to the first stage of ULUDAG, the legendary
"MOUNT OLYMPOS". Drive to IZNIK
(Nicea) the meeting place of the Oecumenial
Council at 325, also very famous with the
tiles. Evening return to Istanbul.
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