Fatih is one of Istanbul's most important historic districts on the European side, a central area where three great civilizations converged: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman.
Our tour begins at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque for its interior blue tile decorations. It features six towering minarets and eight domes, built between 1609 and 1616, with a capacity of 10,000 worshippers.
Next, we visit one of the area's most magnificent landmarks: the famous Hagia Sophia, which began as a Byzantine church commissioned by Emperor Justinian in 532 AD and served for nearly a thousand years before Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror converted it into a mosque.
We then head to the Basilica Cistern, one of Istanbul's hidden gems dating back to Emperor Justinian I. It features 336 precisely carved massive columns, the most famous being the inverted Medusa head column.
The area is home to many renowned Turkish restaurants where you can enjoy lunch before we head to Ortakoy on the Bosphorus, famous for its baked potato boats and stunning waterfront views.
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