Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour

Departure from Italy with Pegasus flights. Upon arrival in Istanbul, meeting with the assistant and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in reserved rooms, free dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

40%

Food

10%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the “Imperial” tour of Istanbul: a day full of history and charm in the heart of Istanbul. The visit begins at the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, once the center of public life in the Empire and the site of the famous chariot races. Here you can admire important historical monuments such as the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Next, stop at the majestic Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and the stunning turquoise tiles that cover its interior.

Continuation of the visit to the Basilica Cistern, built in 532 under Emperor Justinian I, an extraordinary example of Byzantine hydraulic engineering, featuring majestic columns and vaulted arches. Lunch at a local restaurant to savor the authentic flavors of Turkish cuisine. In the afternoon, visit the majestic Topkapi Imperial Palace (Harem section entrance excluded), the former imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years, whose architecture, magnificent decorations, and furnishings testify to the power and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. Next, an external visit to Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, one of Istanbul’s most iconic symbols 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 for spices, carpets, jewelry, and local crafts. Return to the hotel at the end of the visits, dinner on your own, and overnight stay.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

30%

Adventure

20%

Breakfast. Departure for a visit to the Golden Horn: we will pass along the banks of the Golden Horn and visit the Iron Church of St. Stephen, a Bulgarian Orthodox church located in a Turkish city, connected to the struggle for ecclesiastical independence in the 1830s and 1840s, and the only iron Orthodox church in the world. We will continue to the picturesque and colorful neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, protected by UNESCO and considered the earliest settlements of ancient Constantinople. Next, we will visit the Cathedral of St. George, the fifth church in Constantinople to host the Ecumenical Patriarchate since the 15th century. Previously, the convent for Orthodox nuns was transformed into the patriarchal seat by Patriarch Matthew II (1598–1601). Afterwards, we will head to the Spice Bazaar or Egyptian Bazaar, where spices from Egypt were once sold during the Ottoman era. Today it is Istanbul’s largest market for local products such as spices, sweets, and dried fruits. Dinner on your own and overnight stay at the hotel.

* Optional excursion (with extra cost) “Khalkedionia” available, which includes: departure crossing the Eurasia Bridge and arrival at Camlica Hill, the highest point of the city, located on the Asian side, from where you can enjoy 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 the Beylerbeyi Palace, the former summer residence of the Ottoman sultans, followed by transfer back to the hotel.

Relax

20%

Party

20%

Adventure

30%

Food

30%

Breakfast and a full day at leisure to explore Istanbul, a city with millennia-old charm that bridges East and West. You can discover the wonders of the city independently, strolling through colorful bazaars, the historic streets of Sultanahmet, or along the shores of the Bosphorus. Dinner on your own and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast and departure for the capital of Turkey: Ankara. Crossing the Eurasia Bridge and continuing via highway. Arrival in Ankara and visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, also known as the Hittite Museum, where the artifacts are displayed in chronological order, allowing visitors to follow the evolution of the civilizations that succeeded each other in Anatolia from prehistory to the Roman period. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Cappadocia, arrival and check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

(*) Day 5 - Option to transfer from Istanbul to Cappadocia by plane as an alternative to traveling by bus with the following program (optional, for an additional fee): transfer to the airport for the 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

30%

Nature

30%

History

30%

Food

10%

Breakfast and a full day dedicated to exploring this amazing region, the birthplace of Saint George, with its fascinating and unique landscape formed 3 million years ago by lava from the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes. The tour begins with a walk through the captivating Devrent Valley, known as the “Valley of the Fairy Chimneys,” where wind and water have eroded the rocks into peaks, cones, and obelisks.

Next, visit the underground city of Ozkonak or a similar one, built by Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab invasions, with a stop at a carpet and kilim workshop. The tour continues with a visit to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, which preserves an exceptional complex of rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries painted in the 11th century, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, explore the evocative volcanic landscapes of Avcilar (“Hunters”) and Güvercinlik (“Pigeon Valley”) with a stunning panoramic view of Uchisar Castle, perched atop a volcanic rock outcrop full of tunnels and windows. Then visit the village of Uchisar, located within a tuff rock cone. Stop at a local workshop for the crafting of hard stones, gold, and silver for decorative items and jewelry. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

20%

Nature

30%

History

30%

Adventure

20%

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

Breakfast at the hotel (according to the departure time). Transfer to Kayseri airport in time for boarding procedures. Departure for Italy with a flight via Istanbul.

PLEASE NOTE: the itinerary may be subject to changes due to technical or management reasons, closure of monuments for holidays/events, or requirements from local authorities.