Spectacular Sea of Marmara Capitals of Ottoman Empire
Edirne - Bursa - İstanbul
Day 1: Your Airport - Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul - Edirne
After breakfast at hotel, a tour of the Hippodrome that used to be used for horse racing, and today is a memorial square with an imposing obelisk; visit to the Blue Mosque, a monumental building and the last great royal mosque, unique with its six minarets and blue porcelain decorations which gave it its name; Topkapi Palace, an Ottoman imperial palace built by Sultan Mehmed II, located at the far end of the lofty cape, overlooking the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporus; The Basilica Cistern, also known as the Drowned Palace, the largest of several hundred ancient water reservoirs that still lie beneath Istanbul, is certainly the most unusual tourist attraction in the city. The following is a visit to Hagia Sophia from the 6th century, the most famous building of Istanbul, built during the time of Emperor Justinian. Originally the largest church in the Byzantine Empire, it was later converted into a mosque and is today one of the greatest architectural achievements of the time. In the afternoon visit to the picturesque Egyptian Spice Market and Grand Bazaar, the covered market and the largest bazaar in the world with more than 4000 shops, where you can feel the charm of buying gold, textiles, souvenirs and more.
Departure for the city of Edirne, the westernmost Turkish city, a charming picturesque place with rich history and architecture. This second Ottoman capital was in the hands of many nations for centuries, but it is still an important political and economic center. It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire before Mehmet II. (Fatih Sultan) which conquered Constantinople and moved its palace there, Edirne is blessed with imperial buildings, a distinguished culinary heritage and a lingering sense of civic greatness. The city near the Greek and Bulgarian borders has the European flavor that is most appreciated in
include Semiz Ali Pasha Bazaar also built by Sinan, the Sultan’s Bridge over the Tunca River, etc. A short break and a break at Saraçlar Street, a pedestrian street with many shops and cafes.
Drive to Dardanelles. The ferry crossing to the Asian side of this famous strait is a narrow natural strait and an internationally significant waterway of northwestern Turkey that forms part of the continental border between Europe and Asia and separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey, also known from classical antiquity as Hellespont. Here you will have a great time exploring the Trojan horse. The Trojan horse still stands there as a symbol of years of war in the region. Of course, the horse you will see here is not a horse itself, but a replica. However, this replication was quite successful. (The one that was used in the movie Troy.)
The visit‘s next destination will be the sacrificial altars. This area has long been built for the gods and has been used to bless the gods. You will visit here about the religious beliefs of past civilizations.
Another destination was the 3700-year-old city walls. The importance of protecting the city from antiquity and defending the city from enemies was enormous. Today, these are made with firearms. In the past, wrapping the city was a very popular method by building real huge walls. These walls are also very strong, 3700 years old walls surrounding this ancient city.
Troy I Houses, 3000 B.C. - 2500 B.C is designated as another destination. These houses are ancient houses built with a roof and still intact. In the past, we have received the most important information about how people lead a lifestyle.
Agora was one of the most important places for socialization of the ancient city. The commercial life of the city took place in Agora. Merchants used to sell their products here, and buyers would take up their needs in those markets. To understand the nature of traded products in the past, it may be helpful to look closely at the market.
Continued drive to Behramkale (Assos), home of Aristotle where he founded the Philosophical School and conducted his earliest research in the fields of zoology, biology and botany. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
A total of 310 km, ie 4 hours and 38 minutes drive
Day 3: Edirne - Dardaneli - Assos
Breakfast at the hotel, and the continuation of the visits remained from the previous day. Visit to the Üç Şerefeli Mosque with its four distinctive minarets of different design; Eski (Old) Mosque, the smallest and oldest mosque known for calligraphic inscriptions on the interior walls. Other highlights
Arrival of the group at Istanbul Airport.
Welcome and greet by our local professional guide.
Accommodation after a optional cruise by the mighty Bosphorus Strait, which joins the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi) with the Black Sea (Karadeniz), 32km north of the Galata Bridge. Over the centuries the Bosphorus has been crossed by conquering armies, intrepid merchants and many an adventurous spirit. These days, thousands of İstanbullus commute along it; fishing vessels try their luck in its waters; huge tankers and container ships make a stately progress down its central channel; and tourists ride the excursion ferries that ply its length. On one side is Europe, on the other Asia —both shores are lined with historic yalıs (seafront mansions) and have loads of attractions.
Return to hotel to prepare for optional Istanbul by Night at Ruby Istanbul; at a glamour nightclub on the Bosporus with beautiful views of 1st Bridge, Asia and the Ortakoy Mosque. Return to hotel individually.
Day 4: Assos - Bursa
Breakfast and tour of Assos. Although officially named Behramkale, most people still call it the ancient name of Assos. It was founded in 700 BC by colonists from Lesvos. Aristotle came here and married King Herme’s niece, Pythia, before sailing for Lesvos.
On a hill surrounded by olive groves are the ruins of the Doric temple of Athens (530 BC), surrounded by decaying city walls and an ancient necropolis (cemetery). Nearby is the 14th-century Ottoman Murad Hüdavendigar Mosque. The hill offers spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and the nearby Greek island of Lesvos.
Aristotle lived in Assos and St. Paul visited him.
Journey continues to Bursa. Arrival in Bursa, Being one of the four main largest cities in Turkey, Bursa is located in the southeast of Marmara Sea, the northwest of famous Uludag’s piedmonts (mountain foot). The history of
Bursa Province was based on B.C between 5000-3500 years, the Chalcolithic Period. It has received many different communities such as Phoenicians, Lydians, Romans and Ottomans. According to ancient sources, the city was found by Emperor Prusias I of Bithynia. He gave that glorious city his name ‘’Prusa (todays Bursa in Turkish)’’. Today, as a result of archaeological excavations, it was turned out the women marble sculpture.
When it is look at the Byzantine (Rome) Era, it is especially seen that the period of Byzantine Emperor Justinianus (527-565), new fascinating public baths named Cekirge Baths were built. Also the relics of many mosaics, chapels and monasteries were made within that time. Those empires contributed it with their cultural and artistic values but after the Ottoman time that magnificent city was more advanced and its importance increased.
After the conquest by Ottoman Empire Orhan Gazi in 6 April 1326, it was a capital until 1365. Then, it continued as a symbolically capital with its funeral ceremonies of Sultans and the other significant celebrations.
Except for those features, the name of Prusa was changed as Bursa in that time. Also called as Green and Paradise Bursa thanks to its deep greenery, the dreamy city opened its doors to the heaven within that time; many kinds of social complexes, mosques, Turkish baths, hospices, hospitals (darussifa in Ottoman Turkish), madrasahs, caravansaries, inns, mausoleums and palaces were established here.
Upon arrival, a tour of Bursa and its sights such as: Ulu (Grand) Mosque, one of the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture, also biggest and most glorious structure in Bursa, the Great Mosque was built by genius architect Ali Neccar at the request of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid in (1396-1400).
There are four main features separating the Great Mosque from the others; Firstly, it is the first great mosque (Camii Kebir in Turkish). The secondly, it has 20 domes. Thirdly, that enormous structure which is one of the oldest mosques of the Turkish Islamic world includes a huge sadirvan meaning water-tank with a fountain. The last feature, furnished with the samples of calligraphy, the magnificent mosque reflects its privilege by the way of those structures written by 41 separate penmen with 13 different writing styles.
Visit to Kozahan (Silk Market) which was built by the great architect Abdul Ula Bin Pulat Sah as a foundation for historical works in Istanbul by the order of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II in 1491.
Once upon a time, it was a place where pod (silkworm cocoon) was sold. The silk fabrics obtained the cocoons played the first role to be a textile center of Bursa. Approximately, having lived around Bursa for a thousand year and called as ‘’Greengrocers’’, Turks have made the production of pod for centuries. That tradition, sericulture comes from Central Asia.
Being a masterpiece of Bursa, the heritage of Ottoman, the deep tissues of history, the taste of natural, the grace of silk and indispensable place for the photographer, Silk Market (Koza Han in Turkish) is two-storey han located on the rectangle yard.
Arasta, Sultan Orhan‘s Mosque, Green Mosque and Green Turbe (Mausoleum). The mosque was built by prominent architect Hacı Ivaz Pasha at the request of Ottoman Sultan Celebi Mehmet between 1415 and 1419 years in Bursa, Turkey. Its ornamentations and handiworks were made by the period of great painters Haci Ali, Ilyas Ali. Also the grand artist Mehmet Mecnun furnished that spectacular mosque with the splendid tiles.
Located on the city named Green (Yesil in Turkish), Bursa, Green Mosque composes of mausoleum (Tomb) , madrasah, cultivation and Turkis Baths.
Due to its bluish green tiles and the turquoise color used in the ornaments, named as ‘’Green’’ the mihrab of that structure is 10 m high and reflects one of the best samples of tile decoration. Because the greater part of the Green Mosque is covered with tiles, they symbolize the brilliance of “Green Mosque”. The gathering place for the muezzin is also furnished with tiles to the Bursa arc. The place of the Sultan is also ornamented with deluxe tiles. The extra tiles at the place of the Sultan are decorated as flowers. Because of that, this mosque is also regarded as a masterpiece with its fascinating tiles.
The Green Tomb, Established by Sultan Çelebi Mehmet in 1421, Green Tomb is placed on the hill across to the Green Mosque. Its architect is skilfull artist Haci Ivaz Pasha.
One of the most important mausoleums in Bursa, that tomb is called as Green thanks to its covered with the green tiles. The tomb is constructed on an octagonal plan and the burial vault at the lowest floor looks like Seljuk vault. Covered with the bullet, dome of that structure has eight magnificent windows which create a heavenly ambiance here. The tiles used for window pediments are furnished with verses of the Koran and Prophet Mohammad’s deeds.
Dinner and overnight in Bursa.
A total of 300 km, ie 3 hours and 28 minutes.
Day 5: Bursa - Istanbul - Your airport
Breakfast at the hotel and continue vith the visits eventually remained from the previous day. Time at leisure until the time of departure to Istanbul Airport. Crossing the newly built Osmangazi Bridge, 4. largest suspension bridge of the world. Crossing one of the Bosphorus Bridges to the European side. Continue drive to Istanbul Airport for the return flight to home, end of our services.
A total 190 km, ie 2 hours and 7 minutes drive
