Duration:  Full day / Istanbul from 09:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.
Tour summary: Galata (Genoese) Tower, Neve Shalom Synagogue, Zülfaris Synagogue (The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews), Kamondo Staircase, Balat, Ahrida Synagogue,  Yanbol Synagogue, Ortaköy, Etz Ahayim Synagogue.

Your private licensed tour guide will meet you at your hotel, airport or cruise ship and accompany you to discover Jewish heritage.

During this tour we will explore historical Jewish quarters and sites of Jewish heritage in Istanbul. First we will see to the Galata Quarter.  The history of Jewish life in Galata began in Byzantine times when this was a walled city separate from Constantinople.  Among of historical monuments of the area are Galata (Genoese) Tower, Neve Shalom Synagogue, Zülfaris Synagogue and Kamondo Staircase.
Our next stop will be the quarter of Balat, in which Jews were settled after their expulsion from Spain, enlarging a community which had lived here since Byzantine times.  There are two major synagogues we will encounter here: Ahrida Synagogue (which foundation dates back to late 1400s) and Yanbol Synagogue.
Next we will drive to Ortaköy, which was the first disembarkation point of Sepharads and where they were welcomed by the Ottoman Sultan.  We will stop at this charming sea-front quarter for lunch and then explore its relics, including the remains of the Etz Ahayim Synagogue.  After this we will have some free time to spend at local colorful street market and various arts and crafts shop. 

 

Need to Know: Minimum three days advance reservation is needed as special permission required at some of these sites. We will ask copies of your passports to obtain permission. Due to possible security reasons, some of the sites may be closed to public admission on the day of the visit.