MEVLANA RUMI and ANATOLIAN SUFI CENTERS

DAY 1.

Arrive at Istanbul international Airport, where our representative will meet you and assist you with your transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul

DAY 2.

Start your day by visiting the magnificent Hagia Sophia and then continue to the Blue Mosque and the Neve Shalom Synagogue. Then visit Eyup a very old part of Istanbul located along the Golden Horn. Overnight Istanbul

DAY 3.

Start by visiting the Topkapi Palace, the ancient residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman empire. Then visit the covered Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. In the afternoon join a Bosphorus cruise. Overnight Istanbul

DAY 4.

Morning flight to Konya, home of the soufiste Mevlana. Visit the Karatay Medresesi (AD 1251) and the Ince Minare Medresesi (AD1267), which were both schools built during the Seljuk period, 13thC. Overnight Konya

DAY 5.

Visit the Tekke of Mevlana  and the Museum, where one can see the tomb of Mevlana, his father and other dervishes as well as artifacts from his time. In the afternoon we meet with a dervishe for a lecture on souphism. Overnight Konya

DAY 6.

Drive to Cappadocia, and en route visit the Sultanhan Caravanserai (1229). Upon arrival visit the Goreme Open Air Museum where there are Byzantine Churches built in between 9th C and 13th C. AD. Overnight Uchisar

DAY 7 .

Drive to Kayseri, which was the capital city of  the Cappadocian Kingdom. Visit the Tomb of Kadi Burhanettin (13th C.) who was one of the Spiritual teacher of Mevlana and then continue to Hunat Hatun Medresesi and Hunat Hatun Mosque. (13th C.) Relax in the afternoon. Overnight Uchisar

DAY 8.

Drive to Hacıbektas which is one of the holly pilgrimage town for Turkish people. Visit the Tomb of Hacıbektas (13th C.) who is one of the dervishes and a great spiritual teacher and his museum with the  remains of his time. Hacıbektas is the founder of  Bektasi order of Dervishes. Drive then to Kırsehir to visit the Tomb of Ahi Evran (13th C.) who is the founder of Ahi dervishe’s order. Overnight Ankara

DAY 9.

Visiting the Hacı Bayram Camii built in 1427. Hacı Bayram Veli founded the Bayram dervishes and this turbe (tomb) by side of the mosque has long been a popular place of pilgrimage. We visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum where one can see the remains from the early Anatolian Civilization sites.

(optional)

Driving to Sarıköy to visit the tomb and the Museum of Yunus Emre who lived in between 1240-1320, he is one of the most known mystic and poet of the Turkish history. Overnight Bursa

DAY 10. 

Visiting the Green Mosque and the Green Turbe (1413-21) in Bursa and the great Mosque and the Market (1396). Driving to Istanbul.

ISTANBUL'S HERITAGE

Day 1

Ottoman heritage and Souphism

We start our day with a visit to the marvelous Topkapi palace, that served as the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries. Optional visits: to the Treasury, where the extensive exhibits include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain, textiles and costumes of the Sultans, as well as to the Harem quarters, which is an absolute highlight.After which you visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its precious ceramics.

After a lunch break in the famous Daruzziyafe Restaurant, which used to be the banqueting rooms of the sultans, and still served some fine ottoman dishes, we visit the Suleyman’s Mosque complex the second largest but by far the finest and most magnificiant of the imperial mosque complexes in the city.It is a fitting monument to its founder, Suleyman the magnificent, and a master work of the greatest of Ottoman architects, the incomparable Sinan.

Then we continue to the area of Eyup, a holly place, where the Mosque and Mausoleum of Eyiip Sultan, located outside the corner where the land walls meet the walls along the Golden Horn, is considered a sacred site for Moslems. Eyiip-el-Ensari was a standard-bearer of Mohammed and he died-here during an Arabic siege of the city in the 7th century. His grave was discovered at the conquest and later the mausoleum and the first mosque in Istanbul were built on this site.

Enjoy the sunset on the Golden Horn, before returning to your hotel.

In the evening, you will assist to a whirling dervishes ceremony, preceeded by a lecture on souphism.

Day 2

Byzantine and Orthodox heritage

Start your day by visiting the magnificent Haghia Sophia, the perle of Byzance,and then continue to the Greek Patriarchat,which have all the opulence and beauty of any Orthodox church. The church's main boast, aside from its association with the Patriarch, are its artifacts and relics, which include: the patriarchal throne, believed to date from the 5th century; three rare mosaic icons; the Column of Flagellation to which Jesus was tied and whipped; and the tombs of three female saints. before visiting the most interesting Byzantine churches in the city the Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, called in Turkish, Kariye Camii. The mosaics and frescoes are by far the most important and extensive series of Byzantine paintings in the city and among the best and most beautiful in the world.After a lınch break at the famous Asitane Restaurant, we will walk from Taksim to Tunel, to see Haghia Triada built in 1882 by the Russian community and passed on to the greek later on, and the latin church of St Antoine,rebuilt in 1831, followed by window-shopping in the district of Beyoglu and a drink in "Cicek pasaji" before returning to your hotel.

Day 3

Jewish Heritage

Istanbul has had a vibrant Jewish community for more than 1000 years.

Departure for a visit to Balat district which has been the earliest neighborhood of the Jews from 1492 and on. Star of David can still be noticed on the facades of some of the buildings. Visit the 15th century Ahrida Synagogue whose teva resembles a bow representing the Ottoman ships sent by Sultan Beyazit II who offered safety for the refugees of the Spanish Inquisition. Continue the tour with Yanbol Synagogue which dates back to the Byzantine Period.

Continue to the area of Haskoy, which has the Jewish Home for the Aged, the Kamondo mansion, a large Jewish cemetery which includes the Kamondo mausoleum, and the imperial Ottoman pavilion called the Aynalikavak Kasri.

In the afternoon we see the Ashkenazi Synagogue built in 1900 and after, the Neve Shalom Synagogue
which is the biggest one in Istanbul built in 1951 for the Sepharadic Jews.

We will finish the day with the area around the Galata Tower which is of prime interest to visitors touring the Jewish interest sites. The Galata neighborhood has bustling street life, the numerous synagogues have great historical and artistic value, and all sites are within easy walking distance of one another.

For more information about the programs or about Mevlana Rumi, please write email us.