Explore the Jewish Heritage on This 10 Days Tour From Istanbul

n and have the rest of the day at your leisure

Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was constructed by Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for more than 1000 years.

See its intricate mosaics and large central dome before Continuing to the Topkapi Palace, which was once used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries and see the magnificent collection of priceless jewels, silver, crystal, and porcelain, robes that were worn by the sultans and the relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra).

After lunch, we will visit the stunning Blue Mosque that was built for Sultan Ahmet I, and 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 and visit the hidden Underground Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar with its many shops perfect for your holiday souvenirs.

Visit the Ashkenazi Synagogue, before crossing over the Golden horn to Balat, which has been the centre point of Jewish presence in Istanbul for over five centuries.

We then continue to Neve Shalom Synagogue and visit the old neighbourhood and the Ahrida Synagogue, which is the oldest and most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul and was built in the 15th century.

Later in the day, we will visit the Galata Tower and the old neighbourhood of Galata where you can get a beautiful glimpse of Old Istanbul.

See the Zulfaris Museum, with historical and ethnographic sections that celebrate 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.

Take an early morning flight from the airport in Istanbul to Cappadocia and on arrival at the airport meet with your driver just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to Cappadocia. Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia before driving to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos ), where you will see some Byzantine period mosaic art and an archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys that are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains are also spectacular.

Continue your tour with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer and visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old houses and excellent examples of late Greek settlements and architecture

Continue with panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations which are in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd.

Cappadocia

Lunch in Avanos which is the centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and have a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.

In the afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).

Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.

Take a morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul). Arrival and meeting at the airport with your name sign and transfer to Izmir.

Visit Izmir’s Jewish heritage sites, and our first stop is to Izmir’s bazaar. The heart of the historical Izmir’s Jewish life was in the synagogues of La Judiera and in the area of the bazaar where the synagogues are located and where some Jewish merchants still work.

We will then take a walk along Havra Sokak, the Street of Synagogues, named for its nine small, active synagogues which served the Jewish merchants and artisans who worked close by.

We then continue our tour with the panoramic drive through the Alsancak quarter and Continue to see Beth Israel Synagogue, a beautiful Ottoman Victorian-style building.

Walk to the Asansor, a 19th-century funicular which once took passengers from the shore road up to the sheer rock cliffs to the desirable residential district above.

Visit the ancient city of Ephesus where we will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Cicero, Caesar, Apostles Paul and John and many other historical names.

The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry extra) which is where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation.

The mosaics and frescos are spectacular, and St John brought the Virgin Mary hereafter the Crucifixion and lived out her final years close to the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop.

A lovely chapel is built on the site tended by Franciscans and is open to visitors, and it has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope. Visit the Temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Drive to the city of Sardis the capital of Ancient Lydia and visit the famous Synagogue and Temple of Diana.

Aphrodisias was primarily known as a centre for the arts; specifically, sculpture and the Aphrodisias School of Sculpture that had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world.

Discover the travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are the most incredible natural wonders you have ever seen from different mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain.

Calcite-laden waters which have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a strange fairyland of solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle). Moreover, the water in the basins changes its colour according to how the light enters.

Transfer to Denizli airport and take a morning flight from Denizli to Istanbul airport where you will have a free afternoon for the last chance to complete your visits.