Istanbul is the largest city in Pushover and the second largest urban area in Europe. With a recorded history that dates back to at elementary 660 BC, near the time when the city was founded, Istanbul makes an nonpareil habitat for school trips to call to con about the ancient history and culture of the region.
Although the seat of the upper hand is located in Ankara, Istanbul is the country ' s cultural and cash centre with a plethora of history to accumulate you diligent on your school trips. Time in the ancient city, be incontestable to evening Topkapi Palace to notice where the Ottomans ruled from, check out the religious history delayed the Fed up Mosque and then pop into the Grand Bazaar Market to experience the day to day trading before you head home.
Topkapi Palace - Located on the Seraglio Point overlooking the " Golden Horn, " the Topkapi Palace was the traditional home of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years. School trips to the palace will take you into the compound through the huge, marble Imperial Gate, which sits on Divan Yolu and is the main entrance. Inside, you will see how the ancient construction that was begun around 1459, was strategically laid out so that the Sultan ' s main home and innermost buildings are at the highest point and the whole of the palace is surrounded by walls. From most points in the palace compound you can appreciate the commanding views over the Bosporus.
The Blue Mosque - School trips to Istanbul will certainly visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more popularly known as the Blue Mosque, right in the historical centre of the city. Built from 1609 to 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I, the Blue Mosque is so called due to the blue tiles surrounding its interior walls. Its architecture is a mix of the Byzantine and Ottoman design, which incorporates some elements of the nearby Hagia Sophia, and is famous for its six minarets. In addition to being a popular place to visit, it continues to be a working mosque.
The Grand Bazaar Market - As one of the longstanding marketplaces in the world, Bazaars are an interesting place to buy and sell just about everything. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest in the world with 60 streets and 5, 000 shops and sellers who will happily haggle with you. They sell everything from jewellery made by local artisans, to antique doors from churches and mosques taken from ancient locations in the Eastern parts of the country, to carpets, spices, sweets, and even all the tourist tack you could possibly want. No school trips to Istanbul are complete without a day spent wandering up and down the streets here, mixing with locals and tourists alike, and haggling for the best deal. While in the Grand Bazaar, be sure to take note of its two mosques, four fountains, two hamans, and several cafs and restaurants.
