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Topkapi Palace

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Topkapi Palace

Private tours Istanbul have a bag full of stories; Once upon a time, there were many characteristic sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Each one of them with their own story. There was a former concubine who managed to become the powerful consort of Suleyman the Magnificent – the beautiful Roxelana. Also, many other girls slaves taught the arts of make-up, dress, music, dancing, reading and writing, etc. to become part of the Harem later; janissaries; a palette of sad, mad, bad, happy stories… All of these have the name with two words only – Topkapi Palace!

Mehmet II conquered the city

2140 years after the foundation of today’s Istanbul, a young sultan at the age of twenty-three – Mehmet II conquered the city. Named ‘the Conqueror’, due to his victory, 9 years after it, Sultan Mehmet started building his palace over the ruins of Constantinople’s Acropolis. The result was Topkapi Palace. Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror especially chose the place. He started to call himself, ‘I am the Sultan of the lands and the seas.’ This is the point in private tours Istanbul that you are closest to two continents and to seas walking tour istanbul.

It occupies one of the seven hills of Istanbul overlooking the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. There is a good view of the Bosphorus from many points of the palace. Topkapi Palace was certainly quite different from the European palaces. This is because of its ”irregular, asymmetric, non-axial, and unmonumental proportions”. It also differed a lot from the oriental or Islamic traditions in the art of palace building. In fact, Topkapi was a sui generis microcosm, a paradise on earth or ‘The Palace of Felicity’. Make sure you don’t miss it! But also make sure you have enough time to see most of it if not all on private tours Istanbul private tours istanbul.

Establishing the basic layout of the palace

Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror was the one who established the basic layout of the palace. According to an account of a contemporary historian, the sultan also “… took care to summon the very best workmen from everywhere – masons and stone cutters and carpenters … For he was constructing great edifices which were to be worth seeing and should in every respect vie with the greatest and best of the past. For this reason he needed to give them the most careful oversight as to workmen and materials of many kinds and the best quality, and he also was concerned with the very many and great expenses and outlays.”

Istanbul in city tour

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Istanbul in city tour

Istanbul in city tour

Istanbul is one although with many different faces. Because of that, probably, I really like the comparison between this cosmopolitan city and the dragon. Dragons are legendary, mythical creatures who can fly, fight, guard people and protect heaven… Don’t you recognize Istanbul here? It’s legendary and mythical, powerful, with many heads and capable of reviving. Just like a dragon. Interestingly, unlike this ancient beast, Istanbul is not a frightening place. On the contrary, it’s a place that makes you curious, excited and ready to learn and enjoy.

City tour Istanbul following the footsteps of …

During our city tour Istanbul we will follow the footsteps of Constantine the Great, Justinian the First, Theodora. Who else? Definitely, Suleyman the Magnificent or Murad IV. Or we can simply talk about the riot of Nike. Whatever footsteps our tour follows, there is a promise for a knowledgeable and fun day private tours istanbul.

Constantine the Great, after whom Constantinople was named. Or Suleyman the Magnificent, the ‘Kanuni’, who ruled for 46 years and doubled the territory of the Ottoman Empire.

North of Taksim Square is the place people know as New Istanbul. This is the place people started to inhabit in the last years of the Ottoman Empire and early Turkish Republic. This district in Istanbul has neighbourhoods like Elmadag, Nisantasi, Kurtulus and Sisli, which are worth visiting for good food or drink.

So you are welcome to have fun in the city tour Istanbul.

Interesting stories and city tour Istanbul

In the beginning it was Byzantium… However, if we go further back in time, we will find the small fishing village Lygos. It was settled on the European side of today’s Istanbul. Then, around 700 BC colonists from Megara in Greece, founded the city of Chalcedon on the European shore of the Bosphorus. And here comes Byzantium – the next name of the settlement city tour istanbul.

Byzantium, comes after a Megarean colonist, Byzas, who established his new colony. There is a legend that says that Byzas was the son of Poseidon and a nymph, daughter of Zeus and Io. Before he was leaving Greece, he asked the oracle at Delphi where he should establish his new colony. The answer he got was enigmatic – ‘Opposite the blind’.

While he was sailing up the Bosphorus, he remembered the words of the oracle as he noticed the colony on the Asian shore at Chalcedon. Then on the European shore he saw the small fishing village of Lygos. It was built on a magnificent and easily fortified natural harbour of the Golden Horn. Thinking, as legend has it, that the settlers of Chalcedon must have been blind to disregard such a good and strategic position, Byzas and his fellows settled their new town there and named it after its founder Byzas, Byzantium.

Christian Heritage

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Christian Heritage

After Turks conquered Istanbul, still Christianity was the first religion there. Monuments of Christianity can be seen in Istanbul on Istanbul private guided tours and around Turkey in general. Particularly Ephesus played a vital role in the spread of the religion. It was one of the seven churches of Asia, the site of several 5-th century Christian Councils . We are not sure if Constantine the Great was a Christian or not but he is the one who thought that Christianity can be the saviour of the Roman Empire. He decided to accept the Christianity as a religion but he also knew it was not easy to do that in Rome. He was looking for a new capital when he came down to Byzantion (today’s Istanbul or Constantinople) where he settled his new Rome. Istanbul or Constantinople is the city where Christianity was promoted as the official religion of Rome. You can sense the Christian heritage of Istanbul not only with the buildings but also with the way Constantine the Great thought of and acted. His idea of a new capital and new religion of Rome. It can be felt among St.Sophia, Chora Church Museum and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate istanbul private guided tours.

Head of Orthodox Church

Istanbul is still the centre and the head of Orthodox Church. Although there are more than 90 Orthodox churches up and running, the population of Orthodox is a little bit more than 5000. In Istanbul there are also 30 Catholic Churches. St. Anthony of Padua Church is the main one.

Turkey, Anatolia had always been given the label of cradle of Christianity. It is the birthplace of many Christian Apostles and Saints. Istanbul private guided tours have the knowledge. And they will to take you around Istanbul and introduce you to the monuments of Christianity city tours istanbul.

Ensar in Hurriyet Newspaper

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Ensar in Hurriyet Newspaper

City Tours Istanbul – Istanbul dream of children from Soma became true

They are the children of Turkey. They are our children. As children, especially ones whose fathers are the miners from Soma, who we lost, they deserve to know that they are not alone. They also need to know that there are people, who like to be their friends and people, who like to help them. Istanbul custom tours means tours tailor made for a person or a group of people. That kind of tour was made for these sweet, curious children. On their two-day tor they saw the Maiden’s Tower, went on a Bosphorus boat trip. The grandness of the Topkapi palace captivated them all. They also prayed in Blue Mosque in their City Tours Istanbul. And many other places of interest as well as they felt the love of many people. Hurriyet newspaper wanted to be the first friend to offer a hand to the children and their mothers. It started the initiative ’Soma Has Dreams’ for the Soma children of miners who we lost. The dream of 30 children ’to see Istanbul’ became true private tour guide istanbul.

Famous actors and Bosphorus for children in city tours Istanbul

The famously beautiful stretch of water, the Persona of Istanbul, a beautiful female who stays charming, inspirational and full of surprises (just like the children), made these little creatures experience the meaning of the Turkish word ‘keyif’. Did you guess who that ‘female’ is? Yes, correct – the Bosphorus. The children watched the Bosphorus. They enjoyed it from Cemil Sultan Woods. Then they got introduced to modern art in Perili Kosk (meaning ‘Haunted Mansion’ in Turkish), explored the fish kingdom and watched the world from the Moon. Also, they examined old cars, boats, submarines, locomotives, airplanes, doll houses, toys in city tours Istanbul city tours istanbul.

They talked a lot to Sevket Coruh (Mesud Guneri) – the commissar from the Turkish series ‘Back Streets’, and the author of ‘The Story of Cherry Season’, Ozge Gurel. They took lots of pictures with the actors – Salih Bademci, Onur Buyuktopcu, Levent Ulgen ve Nergis Kumbasar, from another TV series, ‘Kiralik Ask’ (‘Love for Rent’).

Jewish Heritage

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Jewish Heritage

A hope given to Jews by Sultan Bayazid II – Private Tour Guide Istanbul

Get the taste of the Jewish culture in the history mosaic of the city with the help of private tour guide Istanbul. In 1492 the Ottoman Empire opened its borders to Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. Many of them settled down in the neighbourhood of Galata where there is a watch-tower built in the 14th century by Genovese, offering a great 360 view of the city. Continue to Neve Shalom Synagogue and then visit the Jewish Museum of Zulfaris Synagogue, run by Quincentennial Foundation istanbul private guided tours.

After lunch, we go to Balat district along the Golden Horn, another old Jewish district where we’ll visit the Ahrida Synagogue built over 500 years ago and still in use today. After walking around this old neighbourhood where the Star of David appears on some of the buildings, we might finish the day having a Turkish coffee on Pierre Loti hill with the great view of old Istanbul. Please, note that this tour requires special permissions for synagogue visits for which we should apply at least a day in advance. This tour is not available on Saturdays or during Jewish religious holidaysprivate tour guide istanbul.

There are currently 26 active synagogues in Istanbul. Instead of listing them all, I decided to give an overview of the most notable ones for the Istanbul private guided tours.

Neve Shalom Synagogue – located in Karakoy, is the central and largest Sephardic synagogue in Istanbul. It was inaugurated on Sunday March 25, 1951 and is open to service (see details on their website). Unfortunately, Neve Shalom has been the target of three terrorist attacks.

Kanyon

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Kanyon

Istanbul Guided Tours – The modern version of Grand Bazaar!

Istanbul Guided Tours, city tours Istanbul and Kanyon. This is a multi-purpose complex in the Levent financial district of Istanbul, Turkey, which consists of a shopping mall, a 30-floor office tower (26 floors of which rise above Buyukdere Avenue level) and a 22-floor residential block.

It unites 179 residential apartments, an office tower and a 160 store retail space (covering an area of 37,500 m²) to undulate around a dramatic architectural “canyon” since its debut on 6 June 2006. There is rentable retail area, 180 residential flats, 160 stores, 9 theatre halls with a capacity of 1,600 spectators and a parking facility for 2,300 vehicles. Each floor of the office tower has a total usable office space of 1,167 m². The complex rises on an area of 29,427 m². Impressive, isn’t it? If Kanyon is the modern version of Grand Bazaar, then the Bazaar is probably another version of the ancient Agora in Ephesus.

Although we don’t visit Kanyon that often in our Istanbul Guided Tours, it still can be an option to see a modern shopping mall in Istanbul tours istanbul.

Best global and local brands and private tour guide Istanbul

Best global and local brands, coolest restaurants are all waiting for you between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm. Some restaurants and cafes at Kanyon are also open for early breakfasts and late dinners istanbul guided tours.

Nisantasi

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Nisantasi

Daily Istanbul Tours – Encourage yourselves and be part of modern Istanbul

Ever wanted to mingle with the people of the day? Then Daily Istanbul Tours and Istanbul guided tours are for you. Or you might want to do some shopping in Turkey’s most expensive street where you can shop at Gucci, Hugo Boss, Prada, Chanel..

Nisantasi was settled by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid I in the middle of the 19th century. His idea was to make a proper living district and to encourage the citizens of Istanbul to settle there. He erected two obelisks to define the beginning point and the ending point of the quarter. He ordered the construction of the Tesvikiye Police Station and the Tesvikiye Mosque (in Ottoman Turkish ‘Tesvikiye’ means ‘encouragement’).

Literally means Marking Stone

Nisantasi itself literally means Marking Stone in Turkish. (guided tours Turkey) The name is from the past and comes from the stones that were erected to mark the archery range records of the Ottoman archers and sultans. Some of these target stones are shaped like small obelisks and have Ottoman Turkish inscriptions on them. They are still found on the pavements of Nisantasi as monuments from the past. The inscriptions give information about the date, the shooter and the distance the arrow was thrown istanbul guided tours.

Sultan Abdulmecid I’s idea to make a proper district for living was successful. Because after the Balkan Wars many Turks from Macedonia, especially Thessaloniki (Selanik, which was an Ottoman metropolis until 1912) settled in the Nisantasi quarter of Istanbul. Apart from the Turks, the quarter also had sizeable Greek, Jewish, Armenian and Levantine communities.

Nowadays, Nisantasi is a central quarter of New Istanbul just like in olden days the Agora was in Ephesus. Nisantasi is famous for its many Art Nouveau buildings and it is also home to several distinguished figures of the Turkish jet-set, culture and art. There you can easily see famous people walking on the street any time during the daydaily istanbul tours.

Istanbul Modern

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Istanbul Modern

Where beauty is born

Private tours and daily Istanbul tours will help you see Istanbul in a different light. Istanbul is not only history. It is also one of the most fertile places for artists. With its beautiful atmosphere, artists are able to create many things to express themselves. One of the places where you can see them inventing is Istanbul Modern – a big building.

The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art is Turkey’s first private museum to organise modern and contemporary art exhibitions. It was founded in 2004 and occupies an 8,000 square metre site on the shores of the Bosphorus. The number of private museums in Turkey has increased to 177 museums and they are all under the inspection of the Culture and Tourism Ministry daily istanbul tours.

Istanbul Modern embraces a global vision

Istanbul Modern embraces a global vision to collect, preserve, exhibit and document works of modern and contemporary art. And also make them accessible to art lovers.

As part of its commitment to sharing Turkey’s artistic creativity with wide audiences and promoting its cultural identity in the international art world, Istanbul Modern hosts a broad array of interdisciplinary activities.

Apart from permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, a photography gallery, and spaces for educational and social programs, the museum offers a cinema, restaurant, design store and an extensive library tours istanbul.

Hippodrome

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Hippodrome

Istanbul old city tours – Sporting and social centre of two empires

In the square, in front of the Blue Mosque and on your Istanbul old city tours, one of the most famous areas in Byzantine Constantinople can be found, the Hippodrome. The ancient Hippodrome was originally a gathering place, sports area and the scene of chariot races. This is also the place that you have to visit in your private tours Istanbul.

The Hippodrome was the centre of Byzantium’s life for 1000 years and of Ottoman life for another 400.

The scene of countless political dramas during the long life of the city; the rival chariot teams of ‘Greens’ and ‘Blues’ had separate sectarian connections. Support for a team was akin to membership of a political party. And also a team victory had great effects on policy. A Byzantine emperor might lose his throne as the result of a post-match riot. You surely can’t see the Hippodrome if you don’t join Istanbul old city tours and local guide Istanbul. But you would definitely miss great and informative day local guide istanbul.

Though the Hippodrome might be the scene of their downfall, Byzantine emperors and Ottoman sultans outdid one another in beautifying it.

Unfortunately, many priceless statues carved by ancient masters have disappeared from their original homes here. Chief among the villains responsible for such thefts were the soldiers of the Fourth Crusade. They invaded Constantinople, a Christian ally city, in 1204. After sacking Aya Sofya, they tore all the bronze plates from the stone obelisk at the Hippodrome’s southern end in the mistaken belief that they were gold. The crusaders also stole the famous quadriga, or team of four horses cast in bronze, a copy of which now sits atop the main door of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice (the original is inside the basilica)istanbul old city tours.

Spice Bazaar

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Spice Bazaar

Spice up your life!

Looking for a nice place to do some shopping in Istanbul and you’d rather visit it with local guide Istanbul private tours?! Or you might be looking for a colourful location in Istanbul?! The Spice Bazaar – a world of spices and smells is where you can enjoy these both. Misir Carsisi, the Spice Bazaar, is the second largest covered market after the Grand Bazaar. It has been a must-see destination in Istanbul for centuries. As such, it is included in daily tour Istanbul daily tour istanbul.

Yeni Camii complex

The Spice Bazaar was constructed in the 1660s as part of the Yeni Camii complex. It was built to provide rent for the upkeep of the nearby mosque, the Yeni Camii. It is located in Eminonu and began to be built during the time of Sultan Mehmet III. Sultan Mehmet IV’s mother, Hatice Turhan, ordered architect Mustafa Aga to complete the Spice Bazaar, which he achieved by 1663. The historic marketplace is an “L”-shaped building, consisting of 88 vaulted rooms, almost all of which are now divided into an upper and lower storey.

When you visit the Bazaar, preferably with private tour Istanbul, you will see there are six entrances. Stone and brick were used during construction instead of wood and the bazaar has a wooden balcony for reciting the call to prayer. In the early days, the bazaar contained mostly herb stores, but in time spice-sellers, candy sellers and stores selling health products began to open here. Herb stores did not just sell herbs, they were also a kind of health consultant for people looking for herbs to heal their illnesses or who were seeking relief with herbal concoctions local guide istanbul.

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