Meet your private guide and driver at your central Istanbul hotel, and set out to explore Istanbul’s most prominent Christian sites. As you travel to your first destination, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, learn more about the history of Christianity in Istanbul, which dates back to 312 AD.
Take a peek inside the Patriarchate Church, as you hear how ancient Constantinople became an important capital of Christianity, and admire the Orthodox Christian church which is still an important center of worship today. Continue along the Golden Horn to the Church of Panagia Blachernae, an impressive shrine to the Holy Virgin, and famous for its Hagiasma (fountain of holy water); then marvel at the Byzantine monastery of St. Savidr in Chora, with its exquisite mosaics and colorful frescoes.
After lunch (not included), take a tour of the St Mary Pammakaristos church, now the Fethiye mosque; peek into the underground cistern at Zoodochos Pege; and pay a visit to the Saint Mary of Blachernae church. Finally, explore the monastic complex of Christ Pantocrator and admire the Byzantine ruins, which include a funerary chapel, hospice, and medical school.
After a full day uncovering Istanbul’s Christian history, your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.
