Istanbul Historical Tour (Back to product)

Home » Turkey Daily Tours » Istanbul Daily Tours   Istanbul Historical Tour ISTANBUL HISTORICAL TOUR (Full Day) A full day tour at the Old City where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays; replaced with a visit to the St. Chora Museum); Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi, the Fountain of Wilhelm II and the Colossus; the marvelous Underground Cistern;   After lunch proceed to Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc.; Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops. Suleymaniye Mosque, the imperial mosque that dominates the skyline of Istanbul, built by the famous architect Sinan the Great during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century.   ISTDT002 Private Tour: Please Select...2pax pp (+$80.00) 1pax pp (+$230.00) 3pax pp (+$60.00) 4pax pp (+$50.00) 5pax pp (+$40.00) Email Friend List Price: $145.00 Price: $100.00   « Previous | Next »

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A Brief History About Istanbul

In the seventh century BC, Byzas, the legendary commander of the Megarians, following the advice of the Oracle at Delphi, founded the city of Byzantium and placed it under the protection of Rhea and Apollon. In 330 the Roman Emperor Constantine decided to transfer the capital of the Empire from Rome to Byzantium . In the new capital, thereafter known as Constantinople, the Emperor initiated the construction of a palace, a forum, the first basilica of Ayasofya and walls encircling the seven hills of the city.

When in 476 Rome fell under assaults from the north, Constantinople remained the sole capital of the Empire and gradually moved under Greek political and cultural influence. In the sixth century, with a population of over 400 thousand, it was already a large city. Attacked by the Avars and the Persians in the 7th and 8th centuries, Constantinople had to defend itself four times against Arab assaults.

In 1204 it was occupied by the armies of the fourth crusade which pillaged the city and demolished most of its monuments. After several attempts over half a century, the Ottomans finally took control of Constantinople in 1453. The Byzantium Empire, now ruling from this city alone, collapsed. When it was conquered by the Turks, Istanbul was a decaying city with a very diminished population. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror breathed new life in to the city and brought in immigrants from the territories of the Empire, Moslems and Christians alike, while the Greeks and other nationalities continued to enjoy religious and cultural autonomy.

The city was embellished with palaces, mosques, bathhouses and Islamic pious foundations. Benefiting enormously from the wealth of the Ottoman Empire, the city boomed and reached its golden age in the 16th century. The Ottoman rule secured a long period of peace and prosperity for the city. After World War I, following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, it was occupied by the victorious powers and liberated by the Turkish national government in 1923.