Istanbul: The Capital of Empires

Fly from London to Istanbul and transfer to our hotel. Before dinner there is time for a short stroll around the Hippodrome, once Constantinople's great arena for chariot races and other public entertainment.

We will spend the day exploring the Byzantine monuments, beginning with the majestic 6C cathedral of Haghia Sophia, a remarkable testament to Byzantine architectural geometry. Continuing to the Yerebetan Saray, an extraordinary underground cistern with a forest of over 300 columns.

In the afternoon, we see Mosaic Museum which houses original ornamental pavements from the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors, then visit the little church of St. Saviour in Chora (subject to opening), a jewelhouse of late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes.

We begin our exploration of the Ottoman city with a morning visit to the Topkapı Palace, opulent residence of the Ottoman sultans and political centre of the empire. We see the magnificent collection of Chinese porcelain and Ottoman textiles as well as the Imperial Treasury with its wealth of gold and jewels. This afternoon, we visit the Süleymaniye mosque complex, masterpiece of the great Ottoman architect Sinan, followed by a walk through the Covered Bazaar. There is some free time for independent exploration and shopping.

Venture on a morning private boat trip along the Bosphorus, the straits separating Europe and Asia, past castles and ornate Ottoman mansions and palaces. We visit the Sadberk Hanım museum, which displays both a fine archaeological collection spanning the Anatolian Neolithic to Byzantium and a magnificent range of Ottoman textiles, ceramics, calligraphy and metalwork. After lunch by the Bosphorus, we return to the Golden Horn and see the mosque of Rüstem Pasha, Süleyman the Magnificent's grand vizier, its interior covered from floor to ceiling in high quality Iznik tiles. Finally, we walk through the colourful Spice Market and have some free time to stroll around the bustling market area.

This morning we visit the Dolmabahce Palace to see the opulent state rooms and ostentatious ceremonial hall. Its extravagant 4.5 ton chandelier was a present from Queen Victoria to the sultan. Return to the Hippodrome area to see the mosque of Sultanahmet, also known as the 'Blue Mosque', unique in Turkey with its 6 elegant minarets and the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, another grand vizier of Süleyman the Magnificent, which now houses the excellent Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. Free afternoon to explore independently.

Drive beside the majestic Land Walls of Constantinople to Yedikule, the 'Fortress of the Seven Towers', built by Mehmet the Conqueror and used as a notorious prison. The Ottoman fortress contains a section of the Byzantine walls which includes the famous Golden Gate. Drive across the Golden Horn and walk from Taksim Square to the Pera Palas hotel along the former Grande Rue de Pera, the height of fashion among 19th century European residents and still lined with the imposing façades of their former embassies. Visit the Pera Museum, a private museum which houses an interesting collection of Orientalist paintings. There is some free time before our transfer to the airport for the return flight to London.