Jewish District-Bosphorus Cruise With Pierre Loti

Since the early days of the Ottoman Era, there has been a vibrant Jewish community living in Istanbul. After Sultan Mehmet II conquered Istanbul, he encouraged immigration to repopulate the city. Many Jews, persecuted in Spain and Portugal, found a home here. Most immigrants settled in or around Galata, a neighbourhood on the north bank of the Golden Horn. Today, Galata is a lovely, busy neighbourhood with winding, colourful streets. We will start this tour by exploring the streets of Galata to see synagogues, the Jewish Museum, Jewish apartments, and other Jewish heritage sites. You'll also hear about the interesting life and career of Count Abraham Kamondo, a Jewish-Venetian born in Constantinople during Ottoman times. He even built a beautiful public staircase in Galata. Then it will be lunchtime! We will enjoy an authentic Turkish lunch at a local restaurant and then take the cable car at Eyup to Pierre Loti Hill. You will see the most spectacular view of the Golden Horn from the top of Pierre Loti Hill so make sure you bring your camera! From there, have a seat on our comfortable bus and take in the sights as we tour the Golden Horn area on the way to the port. Finally, it will be time to board the boat for a 90-minute Bosphorus cruise. This will definitely be a highlight of your stay in Istanbul! The Bosphorus is a beautiful body of water that separates the continents of Europe and Asia. It provides a stunning view of Istanbul's best attractions from the sea. Admire the beautiful marble facade of Dolmabahce Palace and be blown away by the many more palaces, mosques, bridges and fortresses that you will see en route. Your helpful guide will give you all the interesting facts and information about the attractions. At the end of this wonderful day, we will disembark near the Spice Bazaar at Eminonu and you will be returned to your hotel. We hope your tour will be a memorable one and we look forward to see you in the future on another TravelShop Booking Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.