Turkey / Greece Trip - May 17, 2025 - Istanbul
A cool and rainy day in Istanbul, but that didn’t stop us! We can all write a thorough review of our newly purchased travel rain gear. And some just opted to give it up and be wet!
Our first stop was the Chora church. One of the few Byzantine churches in Istanbul that has never had the Christian decorative elements destroyed. Today it is a museum and a mosque. The frescos are from the 1300s and depict the lives of Christ and of Mary in great detail. Truly stunning place.
Next we went to Galata tower. This was part of the Genoese walls in ancient Constantinople. From the top is a fabulous view of the old city - when it’s not pouring rain LOL! So quite a few of us opted for coffee and pastries while the rest climbed the tower.
The great Hagia Sophia (holy wisdom) church (now a mosque) was packed! We had never been up to balcony. These days that is the only place non Muslims are allowed. There are still a few preserved frescos up there and great views of the architectural elements of this church that dates to the 500’s AD.
Near the Hagia Sophia are the basilica cisterns. Built under a large public square in the 5th century, this cistern was the largest of hundreds that held water brought in by aqueducts for the city. The great columns were taken from many different more ancient buildings and temples to support the structure. The size of the space is dizzying. It held 2,800,000 cu ft of water. 336 marble columns support the ceiling.
Last stop was the Grand Bazaar. Jam packed today - couldn’t get out fast enough, but Jacob enjoyed the experience which is definitely unique!
Tomorrow our official agenda and itinerary begin with the last person arriving at midnight tonight! God Bless and goodnight - PB, Margery and Jacob
Chora Church. Byzantine era church, now a mosque, with 13th century mosaics and frescos still intact.
