From there we cut through the Covered Bazaar, to the Suleymaniye Cami (The Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent), built in the 16th century it is the major masterpiece of Sinan in Istanbul. More than just a mosque the vast kulliye (complex) consists of Medrese (School of law), kitchens for the employees of the kulliye, a soup kitchen for the poor, a caravanserai, a mental hospital, baths, and other institutions that served the neighborhood.

Beginning with the magnificent forecourt we move into the mosque itself, one of the great achievements of Ottoman architecture. Next, in the mosque garden we visit the tombs of Suleyman and his wife, the infamous Roxelana as well as a tightly packed mass of mortuary monuments commemorating the grandees of the Ottoman Empire.

After savoring the view over Istanbul, and the Golden Horn from the mosque terrace we descend the hill in the direction of the Golden Horn passing through the hubbub of medieval craft and wholesaling quarter. Tucked away amongst artisan workshops we find another minor masterpiece of Sinan: Rustem Pasha Mosque, its interior completely sheathed in sixteenth century Iznik tiles.

After a short walk we are at the Spice Bazaar, flanked by its meat, fish, vegetable, and flower markets. We end our walk at Yeni Cami, the last of the classical imperial mosques. We then board the nearby tram for the return trip to our hotel.

Day 3: We meet at the lobby, and board our vehicle for the Byzantine Relics. We travel by minibus to visit the remains of sea and land walls of Constantinople, we drive by the remains of the Bucheleon, the summer palace of the Great Palace of Byzantium, the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, (commonly called the Kucuk Ayasofya, now partly serving as a mosque) situated in a very close neighbourhood.

Next we skirt the great Theodosian land walls, a great feat of military architecture which preserved the city for over 1000 years. We end with one of the greatest treasures of Istanbul The Church of Chora, (Kariye Camii) a Byzantine church in which frescoes and mosaics of the 14th century remain virtually intact. The mosaics and frescoes create one of the most remarkable interiors you are ever likely to see. We head on to Bebek to embark our boat for the leisurely Bosphorus Cruise passing the remains of the last Byzantine palace, the Blachernae, and then driving under the great Aqueduct of Valen, now called the Bozdogan Sarnici.

Boarding our own launch, we leave Bebek cruising further South to view Istanbul from the Bosphorus, meandering around the shore where we view the Ottoman Architectural masterpieces from their best vantage points. Then we cross to the Asian side to view the Ottoman imperial mosques along its shore, proceed pass Dolmabahce Palace the last palace of the sultans, and stop for a tour of Beylerbeyi Palace, one of the summer palaces of the sultans.

Next we pass Rumeli and Anadolu Hisar, two fortresses built by Mehmet the Conqueror prior to capturing Constantinople, as well as assorted palaces and mansions. And then we proceed up the Bosphorus to see the beauty of the less developed end of the Bosphorus.

On our return we disembark at Bebek again. The evening, your last in Istanbul, is yours to plan.