Your
tour guide will meet you at Istanbul port with a sign
“Your Name” on it. First, you will drive to the 11th
century
St.
Chora Church. Some of the very finest
Byzantine mosaics and frescoes can be found in the
Church of St Saviour in Chora. Little is known of the
early history of the church, although its name “in Chora”,
which means “in the country”, suggests that the church
originally stood in a rural setting. Then, drive to the
Old City to visit the “Church of the Holy Visdom”,
Hagia Sophia which is among the world’s
greatest architectural achievements. More than 1,400
years old, it stands as a testament to the
sophistication of the 6th century Byzantine capital and
had a great influence on architecture in the following
centuries. After visiting Hagia Sophia, we will walk at
the Roman Hippodrome Square. The old buildings and shops
in this area are built on top of the old settlements. To
see one of the best examples, we will visit
the
Cistern under Nakkas Store. Some of the
artefacts found in those underground cisterns are from
Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. The Nakkas cistern is
today used as an exhibition hall. Our final visit is to
the nearby Church of SS Sergius and Bacchus, also known
as
Little Hagia Sophia Church founded by
Emperor Justinian in 527. Shopping opportunity
(optional) in Grand Bazaar area before returning to your
cruise ship. Transfer back to the Istanbul port. End of
our services.