Istanbul
Capital of Turkey
Weekend 1-4 June 2007
History of Istanbul
Like any world city on the scale of Istanbul, there are neighbourhoods and districts with distinct identities, but even on a short visit you can dip into all the of the most appealing. The old city, Sultanahmet, evocative of the worlds of the Roman and Ottoman empires, is the preferred destination of many travellers.
Most of the historical and cultural attractions are to be found here, and at night, when Sultanahmet's skyline is lit up by ancient mosques and their minarets, a special atmosphere prevails. Across the Golden Horn, a narrow inlet of water that divides European Istanbul, there are more narrow, cobbled streets with flavours of the past, but also a more contemporary and cosmopolitan city.
Highlights from the trip include among others:
1) Visit to the Blue Mosque
2) Cruising the Bosphorus
3) Our private tour of Istanbul
4) Sundowners at the hotel overlooking the bridges and Bosphorous
5) Dinner out on both evenings and the views from the restaurant