Today we visit yet another historical site of Istanbul, the glorious Hagia Sophia. Once a 6th Century Byzantine basilica, the church was later made into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul. Side by side you can see the Christian mosaics along side the large Islamic medallions of the Muslim religion. After taking in the magnificence of this building we then visit the Archaeological Museum with its collection of sculptures, sarcophagi and many other objects collected from all the ancient sites around Turkey, before moving onto visit the Rustem Pasa Mosque. We will then enjoy a long standing Istanbul tradition and have a fish sandwich for lunch from one of the gilded boats bobbing on the Golden Horn. To walk off our lunch, we will move over to Istiklal Street where we will have a walking tour down the modern vibrant boulevard that is still laced in tradition with old churches, hidden bazaars and coffee-houses. We will visit the biggest and most beautiful church along the way - St Antonio Church before we end up at Galata Tower. Here we will ascend to the viewing balcony where we can take in a 360 degree view of Istanbul, overlooking the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and out to the Princess Islands. This evening you have a fee night to yourself.
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