Cherish revered landmarks included in Istanbul’s UNESCO World Heritage site designation on this engaging tour, including a 16th-century mosque, a museum housed in a historic church and a massive underground cistern, and roam an aromatic bazaar. Drive to the mid-16th-century Rustem Pasa Mosque, designed by architect Mimar Sinan and famed for its exquisite red tiles. You’ll learn this color was much more difficult to achieve, so the preponderance of red-hued Iznik tiles distinguishes this mosque from all others. Appreciate its intricately carved doors and gilded trim work, which exemplify the small mosque’s artistic beauty. You’ll discover the 8th-century Byzantine Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Savior, now the Chora Museum, esteemed for its mosaics and frescoes that depict themes from the Bible.

At the Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns lying beneath Istanbul, marvel at the more than 300 beautiful columns of various designs that support its vaulted brick roof. You’ll stroll the sprawling and exotically fragranced Spice Market, constructed in 1664 as part of an imperial mosque complex, and experience the sights, sounds and smells of its seemingly endless supply of spices, dried fruits and locally made merchandise such as jewelry and pottery.

HELPFUL HINTS 

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately for a mosque visit; men should wear long trousers and women should cover their hair, arms and knees.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

PLEASE NOTE

This tour includes approximately two hours of walking. There will be numerous steps and uneven surfaces to negotiate. The tour is available to guests who utilize a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the coach and have an able-bodied companion to assist them, but it is not recommended. Guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. Wheelchairs are not allowed in the Rustem Pasa Mosque and guests who utilize a wheelchair must wait outside in the garden. The order of sites viewed or visited may vary to avoid crowds. Please expect dense traffic conditions in Istanbul. The Chora Museum is closed on Wednesdays and will be replaced with a visit to Hagia Sophia.