Brief History
Hagia Sophia or “The Church of the Holy Wisdom” is a former Byzantine church and former Ottoman mosque in Istanbul.  Now a muserum, it is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world.

Unfortunately, nothing remains of the original church, which was built by Constantine, the first Christian emperor and founder of the city of Constantinople. Hagia Sophia was rebuilt in its present form between 532 and 537.  It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics, marble pillars, and coverings.

For over 900 years the Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for church councils and imperial ceremonies.  In 1204 the Hagia Sophia was ransacked and desecrated by the Crusaders.  Despite this setback, she remained a functioning church until 1453 when Mehmed the Conqueror entered the city.  He was amazed at the beauty ordered the cathedral cleaned up and converted into the imperial mosque.

Hagia Sophia served as the principal mosque of Istanbul for almost 500 years.   In 1934, under Turkish president Kemal Atatürk, Hagia Sofia was secularized and turned into the Ayasofya Museum.

Itinerary 1 – Istanbul to Athens, Cruise the Greek Isles Spend two days aboard ship in Istanbul; visit the awesome Hagia Sophia, the beautiful Topkapi Palace and the impressive Blue Mosque. Cruise the Bosphorus to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective. Visit one of the many museums, stroll through the spice market and the famous Grand Bazaar.  Then set sail for the Greek Isles, stopping at Kusadasi to tour the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Continue to Corfu, Delos, Katakolon, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Santorini and finish with two days aboard in Athens.  Stand in awe of the Parthenon, the beautiful temples and the view over Athens stretched out before you from the top of the magnificent Acropolis.  12 night cruise, starting at $3,299 including air. Book it! Itinerary 2 – Discover Turkey Begin this excursion through Turkey in Antalya, a beautiful Mediterranean paradise, where you’ll visit the Manavgat Waterfalls and the church of St. Nicholas. Next is Pamukkale to explore the site of Hierapolis and marvel at the “frozen waterfalls.  Kusadasi, home of the ancient ruins of Ephesus, and Troy are not to be missed stops along the way to Istanbul. In Istanbul, visit the awesome Hagia Sophia, the beautiful Topkapi Palace and the impressive Blue Mosque. Cruise the Bosphorus to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective. Visit one of the many museums, stroll through the spice market and the famous Grand Bazaar.  11 nights, starting at $1,710. Book it! Itinerary 3 – Customize It! OK.  We’ve given you a couple of ideas.  Not quite what you are looking for?   Whether you are a solo traveler or a group of 1000, like to rough it or prefer being pampered, we’ll create your dream vacation. We can tweak one of these, or start from scratch.  Call today and we’ll get right on it. Book it!