Circuit Istanbul și Cappadocia Express: 7 zile pentru a descoperi Turcia

Culture

50%

Nature

30%

History

60%

Adventure

20%

Food

30%

Departure from Italy with Pegasus Airlines flights. Arrival in Kayseri via Istanbul, meeting with the local assistant, and transfer to the hotel with accommodation in reserved rooms, dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

50%

Nature

30%

History

60%

Adventure

30%

Food

30%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the “Imperial” tour of Istanbul: departure for a day rich in history and charm in the heart of Istanbul. The day begins with a visit to the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, once the center of public life in the Empire and the venue for the famous chariot races. Here, you can admire important historical monuments such as the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the Column of Constantine. This is followed by a visit to the majestic Sultan Ahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and the beautiful turquoise tiles that decorate its interior.

Continue with a visit to the Basilica Cistern, built in 532 under Emperor Justinian I, an extraordinary example of Byzantine hydraulic engineering with majestic columns and vaulted arches. Lunch at a local restaurant, to taste the authentic flavors of Turkish cuisine. In the afternoon, visit to the magnificent Topkapi Imperial Palace (entrance to the Harem section excluded), the former imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years, whose architecture, magnificent decorations and furnishings bear witness to the power and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire.

Continue with an exterior visit of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks and an absolute masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Free time inside the famous Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, perfect for shopping among spices, carpets, jewelry and local handicrafts. Return to the hotel at the end of the visits, dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Possibility of taking the Bosphorus Cruise (optional excursion with supplement) to admire both the Asian and European sides of the city and its most important palaces, mosques and fortresses.

Culture

50%

Nature

30%

History

50%

Adventure

20%

Food

30%

Breakfast. Departure for a visit to the Golden Horn: we will travel along the shores of the Golden Horn and visit the St. Stephen of the Bulgars Iron Church, a Bulgarian Orthodox church located in a Turkish city, linked to the struggle for ecclesiastical independence during the 1830s and 1840s and the only iron Orthodox church in the world. We will continue towards the picturesque and colorful Fener and Balat districts, protected by UNESCO and considered among the first settlements of ancient Constantinople. We will then visit the Cathedral of St. George, the fifth church in Constantinople to house the Ecumenical Patriarchate since the 15th century. Previously a convent for Orthodox nuns, it was transformed into the patriarchal seat by Patriarch Matthew II (1598-1601). We will then head to the Spice Bazaar or Egyptian Bazaar, where spices from Egypt were once sold during the Ottoman period. Today it is the largest market in Istanbul for typical products such as spices, sweets and dried fruit.(*) The excursion ends here, dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

*Possibility of taking the optional excursion (with supplement) “Khalkedionia” which includes:* departure across the Eurasia Bridge and arrival at Camlica Hill, the highest point in the city, located on the Asian side, from where you can admire a magnificent panorama of Istanbul. Continue to Kadıköy, one of the liveliest and most popular districts of the city. Free time for lunch, during which you can taste typical Turkish street food. In the afternoon, visit to Beylerbeyi Palace, the former summer residence of the Ottoman sultans, followed by transfer back to the hotel.

Relax

30%

Food

50%

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the scheduled Istanbul/Kayseri flight. Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel with the rest of the participants.

Culture

40%

Nature

70%

History

30%

Adventure

30%

Food

20%

Breakfast and a full day dedicated to exploring this fascinating region, where St. George was born, with its unique and captivating landscape, formed 3 million years ago by lava erupted from the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes. The tour begins with a walk through the fascinating Devrent Valley, known as the valley of the “fairy chimneys,” where wind and water erosion have shaped the rocks into peaks, cones and obelisks. Afterwards, visit to the underground city of Ozkonak or another similar one, built by Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab attacks, with a stop at a carpet and kilim workshop. Continue with a visit to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, which preserves an exceptional complex of churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the rock and decorated with frescoes dating back to the 11th century, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the fascinating volcanic landscapes of Avcilar (“of the hunters”) and Güvercinlik (“of the pigeons”), with a beautiful panoramic view of Uçhisar Castle, located on top of a volcanic rock promontory pierced with tunnels and windows. We will then visit the village of Uçhisar, located inside a cone of tuff rock. Stop at a craft workshop specializing in the processing of precious stones, gold and silver for decorations and jewelry. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

20%

Nature

50%

Relax

40%

Food

60%

Breakfast. Free day to enjoy the beauty of the area. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

20%

Nature

20%

Relax

50%

Food

20%

Breakfast at the hotel (subject to departure time). Transfer to Kayseri Airport (ASR) or Nevsehir Airport (NEV) in good time to complete check-in procedures. Departure for Italy with a flight via Istanbul.