Byzantine Treasures

Turkey has a great history, and Istanbul has been witness to great civilizations that have left behind innumerable treasures. One of those great civilizations was the Byzantine Empire, and in spite of the many centuries past, today you can still find some of the artistic wealth they left behind. Visit the Chora Museum, located just by the ancient city walls; it was built as a church towards the end of the 11th century and has had many restorations and refurbishments during its long history. The church was converted into a Mosque in the 1500s by the Ottomans. Dating from the early 14th century, the mosaics and frescoes lining its walls and ceiling depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ and are beautiful examples of the Byzantine Renaissance. You’ll also visit Hagia Sophia, the "Holy Church of Wisdom" or St. Sophia Museum as it is now called. Used as a church for over 900 years, and a mosque for almost 500, it was closed for services in 1934 and converted to a museum since. Many historians have called it the 8th wonder of the world, and it is considered the most important Byzantine monument. The Grand Bazaar is another stop on your tour. It’s one of the world’s largest covered markets and its thousands of shops sell everything from t-shirts and souvenirs to expensive jewelry and antiques. This important trade center sees more than a quarter million visitors daily, from the typical tourist looking for a souvenir to take back home, to the local citizen looking for an everyday household item. The traditional covered section has beautifully decorated domed ceilings with thousands of stalls and stores, and the modern open area has the best modern shops where you can find the most reliable shopping. It is in this modern section that you’ll have a presentation on the unique art of Turkish carpets and be given additional time to shop. Enjoy some complimentary refreshments while you shop and stroll in the handicraft store. You’ll also have free time during your tour to grab a bite to eat at a local cafe or enjoy the cuisine at one of the many restaurants around this area (at your own expense). Note: Tour is not available on the Norwegian Spirit April 17th, August 3rd, September 20th nor October 2nd 2013 sailings. For Norwegian Jade winter sailings, tour is only available on day two. Expect differences in tour durations due to traffic conditions. The "Gallery" section of St. Sophia is not included. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar closes and only the shops of the outer bazaar remain open. Therefore, the visit to the Grand Bazaar may be replaced with the Spice Bazaar. There is approximately 1 3/4 miles of walking over uneven surfaces and some inclines and steps on this tour. This tour will be subject to national and religious festive days due to the closure of the sites and venues during the month of Ramadan from July 9th, 2013 through August 7th, 2013, including the Festival Period of Ramadan from August 8th, 2013 to August 10th, 2013.