FENER – THE ROMAIC DISTRICT
Meeting Point : Meet the guide at the Unkapaný Bus Station
Day : Sunday mornings at 9 am.
Program : Fener is derived from a Romaic word ‘Fanari’ meaning “lantern” or “lighthouse” in
Turkish. It was district of prominent and predominantly Romaic families
up to beginning of 20th century. It is part of Istanbul where the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is situated. Did you know
that Phanariotes dominated the administration of the Patriarchate.
Listen to the story of Phanariotes who served as dragomans to the
Ottoman government and to foreign embassies. If you are up to visit
an active Byzantine Church or see the only church made of iron and
steel in the World – do not miss this walk. Get ready to see
houses, pavements, palaces and other sturctures of the area which
UNESCO project is being succesfully implemented the last decade.
BLUE MOSQUE AND AROUND
Meeting Point : Meet the guide at the entrance of Hagia Sophia
Museum.
Day : Saturday afternoons at 2 pm.
Program : This is the hearth of Istanbul! Amazing stories of Thracians,
Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans will take you deep in to city’s
history. Your guide - expert on history –will take you around
where the horse races were organised in the Byzantium. Listen to
the story explaining how many intellectualls were immprisioned
in Sultanahmet Prison that is used as a hotel building today. Why
the Blue Mosque has 6 minarets? What did Kaiser Wilhelm on his
journey to Ottoman Empire carried as a birthday present to Sultan
Abdülhamid? Where is remain of the House of Emperor Justinian?
Listen to the outstanding true myht of Beheaded Hüseyin Aða
and Cinci Hoca. And many others..
