This city is the main door to Türkiye; one of the most beautiful, exotic and exciting cosmopolitan cities ever likely to visit, where Asia and Europe greet each other across the glittering waters of the Bosphorus, capital of Byzantine and Ottoman empires and center of the Islamic world, this is the city of Istanbul.,
The name of the city was Byzance, as it flourished in the 7th century BC. The city reached its first turning point when Emperor Constantine chose it as the capital of his great Empire-the East Roman or Byzantine Empire. The name of the city was changed to Constantinopolis as the Emperor declared the place where he put his feet was the center of the world. In 1453 the city was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmed ( Mehmed the Conqueror ), and was renamed as Istanbul. It became the capital of Ottoman Empire which lasted until the year of 1923, the declaration of the Republic of Türkiye by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The capital city then moved to Ankara whilst the heart of the country is still beating at this intriguing city of Istanbul. With more than 40,000-bed capacity and as nearly quarter of them in 5 stars, Istanbul offers you such an immense possibility of selection. Most of the buildings at service of tourism in Istanbul are centrally located and are newly constructed or renovated historic edifices. Also, the highly trained personnel who delicately combine Turkish people's deep-rooted hospitality with professionalism are one of the important assets. Excellent Istanbul hotels cannot fail to satisfy even the most demanding and discerning client. BEYNAR TOURISM is offering you intriguing city of Istanbul as your next destination.But, of course what can Türkiye and BEYNAR TOURISM provide together is not limited with the city of Istanbul. The " pearl of the Aegean ", Izmir is Türkiye's third largest city and the second most important port. A city of palm lined promenades, avenues and green parks, set in sweeping curves along the bay. With many historical cities like the ruins of Efesus near to this city, Izmir is also one of the most popular areas to visit in Türkiye. Once, the meeting place of Anthony and Cleopatra; the city Antalya with a beautiful long promenade and lavish archaeological places and long sandy beaches shaded by pine trees is another ideal destination. Cappadocia, the moonscape appearance rocks provided refuge for the persecuted for many centuries ( St.Paul among others, found refuge here and started the first Christian colony in the area ) is also a must see spot in Türkiye.
HIPPODROME
Dating back to 203 B.C. under the Roman Rule, the Hippodrome was the largest racetrack in the ancient times. The monuments of the spine (central line) which survived until our days are the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column and Constantine's Column.
BLUE MOSQUE
Built in 1617 by order of Sultan Ahmet I. the only mosque in the world with six minarets. Named Blue mosque after the color of the beautiful tiles decorating the interior.
HAGIA SOPHIA
Built by Constantine the Great and considered a masterpiece of Byzantine art. Its first construction dates back to the second half of the 4th century. Hagia Sophia served 916 years as a church and 477 years as a mosque; on Ataturk's orders it was turned into a museum.
TOPKAPI PALACE
In 1465, Sultan Mehmet, the conqueror of Istanbul, ordered the construction of the first palace; his successors added new pavilions, thus spreading the Palace to a total area of 70,000 square meters. The Ottoman Sultans lived in and administered the Empire from this Palace until the 19th century. Today a museum, the kitchens house 12,000 pieces of porcelain including a rare Chinese porcelain collection. The treasury section displays one of the richest selections of jewels and precious stones and gold objects. The visit through the Palace also leads to the collection of clocks, the Relics of the Prophet and the Baghdad Kiosk, which is a beautiful sample of Ottoman interior.
UNDERGROUND CISTERN
Built in the 6th century, and the largest of the Byzantine cisterns. A fascinating construction with 336 columns, most with Corinthian capitals, linked by vaults. The cistern supplied a large part of the city water during Byzantine and Ottoman times.
GRAND BAZAAR
Grand Bazaar is the shopping experience of a lifetime: the construction started in the 15th century, Right after the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmet, and galleries were added during the years to form today's labyrinth of shops, grouped in streets according to the trade. Silver, jewelry, leather goods, carpets, antiques, copper, even furniture make the Bazaar even today a major shopping center for natives and tourists alike
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent ordered a mosque appropriate to his title, to be built by the architect Sinan. Completed in 1557, this is the finest architectural work of Ottoman art. Following the tradition, a full complex was also built around the mosque, including schools, market place, library, hospital, public kitchen and fountain.
CHORA CHURCH
The building in its present form was completed in the 11th century. Described as the richest mosaic museum in situ. The mosaics follow an iconography order and have a rare quality. When the Turks converted the church to a mosque after the conquest, these were covered by plaster. Ironically enough, the Islam faith which forbids representation of human figures, preserved them until our times when, with the removal of the plaster by specialists, the mosaics were revealed in their original brightness.
SPICE MARKET
A part of the complex associated with Yeni (new) Mosque, is another one of Istanbul's great covered bazaars-but one, which smells like all mysteries of "1001 Nights". Cozier than the Grand Bazaar, the Spice market offers herbs and spices, dried fruits and nuts, and lokoum. Up and down the many bustling aisles and thousands of sacks full are the most extraordinary herbs and spices in the world - part of the mystery of Oriental cuisine. It has even been said that some of them have magic forces!
DOLMABAHCE PALACE
One of the places in Istanbul that must be seen. Sultan Abdulmecid constructed this magnificent palace situated along the Bosphorus in the midnineteenth century. It has 285 impressively decorated rooms and 43 halls. In wealth and magnificence the Dolmabahce Palace surpasses any palace in the world. The walls and ceilings are covered with paintings by famous artists and with decorations made by using tons of gold. Ataturk used to stay in this palace during his visits to Istanbul and this is also the palace where he died.
CRUISE on the BOSPHORUS
Departure by coach for a short drive down to the pier where guests can board a privately chartered cruise boat for the trip into Asia. The sparkling blue waters of the Bosphorus separate the European part of Turkey from the Asian heartland, just 15 minute crossing by boat. During the cruise guests can enjoy the wonderful views of the Istanbul waterfront and the city skyline, plus the spectacular suspension bridges that link the two continents. The villages and the waterfront communities on both banks are among one of the most desirable residential suburbs of Istanbul, including a number of pretty wood covered mansions and graceful former palaces.
BEYLERBEYI PALACE
Exquisite palace built by Sultan Abdulaziz in 1865. Many royal guests were hosted here, like the French Empress Eugenie. The palace is reputed for the beautiful works of art such as Oriental and European furniture, tapestries, paintings, porcelain.
