Off the Beaten Track
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Imperial Wonders
Approaching Istanbul, the Queen of Cities, from the water is an unforgettable experience:
amidst the waters of the Golden Horn, the seven hills of The City come into view, each capped
with “Monuments of Unageing Intellect”, to quote Yeats. The Wonders of Istanbul, home to
three Empires, are the grandest sites of the city, designed to impress onlookers over the
centuries. Their appeal has only grown with time. For over a millennium and a half, the Haghia
Sophia has inspired piety and stunned all those who have had the privilege to walk through its
doorway; the Conquering Sultan Mehmet II even poured dust on his head before entering as a
sign of humility. Sumptuous palaces, soaring domes, and luminous mosaics await as you explore
some of the most astounding sites the world has to offer.
Hidden Byzantium
City walls, churches, monasteries, columns, shrines & the ruins of legendary palaces ... the still
visible texture of Byzantium, one of the world's great empires, which ruled the city from
Constantine's decision to make it his capital in 330 to its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453.
The grandeur of Byzantine Constantinople was the envy of the world. The plethora of names
for the Byzantine capital reflects this marvel. The Vikings called the city Miklagaror, “The
Great City”, the Slavs, Tsarigrad, the city of the Caesars, and the Persians referred to it as Taxt-I
Rumi, the throne of the Greeks. And though the Byzantines themselves had many names for
Constantinople--“I Vasilevousa” (The Ruling City), “I Valisisa ton Poleon” (The Queen of
Cities)—to the common citizen, Constantinople was simply I Polis (The City), for it was
impossible for them to imagine that another city could be its equal. Yet, on arriving in Istanbul,
at first glance, one can see very little of the remnants of Byzantium. It takes a trained eye to
navigate the side streets and walkways to reveal the hidden splendor of Byzantium that has
survived the ages to our present day.
Ottoman Majesty
Ruling an Empire that spanned Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Ottoman Empire was a bridge
between many cultures and nationalities. Though thoroughly Islamic, the legacy the Ottomans
left in their capital city of Constantinople is an amalgamation of west and east. The perfection
of Ottoman architecture under the great Mimar Sinan was in essence an adaptation of Byzantine
architecture. The current city of Istanbul is largely the legacy of the Ottomans. Many sites still
play an important role in the fabric of the city, as places of pilgrimage and worship. Yet despite
their importance, intrinsic interest, and colorful appeal, many Ottoman sites are not visited by
tourists. This provides an excellent opportunity for the intrepid tourist to discover the unseen
Ottoman past of Istanbul, and fully understand its communion with the present.
Houses of Worship
Constantinople was a city of many confessions and languages, in a time before nationality
existed. All three monotheistic faiths, and the many confessions within all three, found homes
in both Byzantine and Ottoman Constantinople. Their combined efforts and mutual respect and
understanding created the greatest city in the world. Each community left its mark on the city,
mostly through its houses of worship and educational centers. Sadly, many members of these
communities no longer reside in Istanbul. The monuments they left still stand, many of them
hidden amongst the concrete mass of modern Istanbul. A pilgrimage to these sites is not only
like stepping back in time—it is like stepping into another world...
Approaching Istanbul, the Queen of Cities, from the water is an unforgettable experience:
amidst the waters of the Golden Horn, the seven hills of The City come into view, each capped
with “Monuments of Unageing Intellect”, to quote Yeats. The Wonders of Istanbul, home to
three Empires, are the grandest sites of the city, designed to impress onlookers over the
centuries. Their appeal has only grown with time. For over a millennium and a half, the Haghia
Sophia has inspired piety and stunned all those who have had the privilege to walk through its
doorway; the Conquering Sultan Mehmet II even poured dust on his head before entering as a
sign of humility. Sumptuous palaces, soaring domes, and luminous mosaics await as you explore
some of the most astounding sites the world has to offer.
Hidden Byzantium
City walls, churches, monasteries, columns, shrines & the ruins of legendary palaces ... the still
visible texture of Byzantium, one of the world's great empires, which ruled the city from
Constantine's decision to make it his capital in 330 to its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453.
The grandeur of Byzantine Constantinople was the envy of the world. The plethora of names
for the Byzantine capital reflects this marvel. The Vikings called the city Miklagaror, “The
Great City”, the Slavs, Tsarigrad, the city of the Caesars, and the Persians referred to it as Taxt-I
Rumi, the throne of the Greeks. And though the Byzantines themselves had many names for
Constantinople--“I Vasilevousa” (The Ruling City), “I Valisisa ton Poleon” (The Queen of
Cities)—to the common citizen, Constantinople was simply I Polis (The City), for it was
impossible for them to imagine that another city could be its equal. Yet, on arriving in Istanbul,
at first glance, one can see very little of the remnants of Byzantium. It takes a trained eye to
navigate the side streets and walkways to reveal the hidden splendor of Byzantium that has
survived the ages to our present day.
Ottoman Majesty
Ruling an Empire that spanned Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Ottoman Empire was a bridge
between many cultures and nationalities. Though thoroughly Islamic, the legacy the Ottomans
left in their capital city of Constantinople is an amalgamation of west and east. The perfection
of Ottoman architecture under the great Mimar Sinan was in essence an adaptation of Byzantine
architecture. The current city of Istanbul is largely the legacy of the Ottomans. Many sites still
play an important role in the fabric of the city, as places of pilgrimage and worship. Yet despite
their importance, intrinsic interest, and colorful appeal, many Ottoman sites are not visited by
tourists. This provides an excellent opportunity for the intrepid tourist to discover the unseen
Ottoman past of Istanbul, and fully understand its communion with the present.
Houses of Worship
Constantinople was a city of many confessions and languages, in a time before nationality
existed. All three monotheistic faiths, and the many confessions within all three, found homes
in both Byzantine and Ottoman Constantinople. Their combined efforts and mutual respect and
understanding created the greatest city in the world. Each community left its mark on the city,
mostly through its houses of worship and educational centers. Sadly, many members of these
communities no longer reside in Istanbul. The monuments they left still stand, many of them
hidden amongst the concrete mass of modern Istanbul. A pilgrimage to these sites is not only
like stepping back in time—it is like stepping into another world...
- Armenian Catholic & Armenian Orthodox
- Roman Catholic
- Synagogues
- The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople --Greek Orthodox churches, schools and
monasteries throughout the city