Jewish Heritage Tour
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in. Leisure afternoon.
Overnight Istanbul.
Day 2 - Sultanahmet - Old Istanbul
Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Visit the hidden Underground Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar.
*May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located. Overnight Istanbul (B)
Day 3 Jewish Heritage (Istanbul) - Galata and Balat
Visit the Askenazi Synagogue, and then cross over the Golden horn to Balat, which has been the core of Jewish presence in Istanbul for over five centuries. We then continue to Neve Shalom Synagogue. Visit the old neighborhood and the Ahrida Synagogue. It is the oldest and most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul and was built in the 15th c. Later we will visit the Galata Tower and the old neighborhood of Galata and where you can get a nice view of Old Istanbul and the Zulfaris Museum, with historic and ethnographic sections, celebrating over 500 years of friendship between Turks and Jews. We will end the tour in Ortakoy, where the Sephardic Jews were welcomed to Turkey by the Ottoman Sultan (nice cafes and small restaurants).
*Prior notice and copies of passports are needed for this tour.
Transfer to airport in Istanbul for your flight.