Crossroads of Commerce (trip)
Crossroads of Commerce
- Spice Bazaar, Turkey
- Culture & Nature
“enjoyed them all and had fun with the fresco workshop once again proving to myself I am not an artist! ”
| from €56* per person | 3 Hours | Year-round |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 1 | |
| Operator: Context Travel | 12 people max | |
During this three-hour walk of Istanbul we will look at the theme of commerce and how the city has acted as a center of trade for the last 2000 years. Along the way we'll visit a number of local merchants and learn how Istanbul continues to occupy a central role in the clothing, carpets, jewelry, and other crafts.
Loading map, please wait...
Locations visited/nearby
Turkey, Europe
1 testimonial about this trip
-
Reviewer: Joan Schmelzle
located in
Rockford,
IL
USA
enjoyed them all and had fun with the fresco workshop once again proving to myself I am not an artist!
3 testimonials about the provider, Context Travel:
-
Reviewer: Norman Aroesty
located in
Rochester,
NY
USA
There was no comparison between a Context tour and the other tours that I saw people on. We feel very fortunate to have used Context.
-
Reviewer: John and Darlene Skellion
located in
Rifle,
CO
USA
Our docents were so knowledgeable and gave us so much insight into what we were seeing a truly enjoyable and educational experience! We have recommended you to everyone we talk with about taking tours, etc. We will definitely be signing up for more tours when we return to Italy. Thank you for helping make a lot of wonderful memories!
-
Reviewer: Victoria
located in
New Orleans,
LA
USA
The docents were extraordinary! It has been a long time since I have met such talented, educated, and intelligent young people.
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
- May accommodate certain types of disabilities. Contact the operator for more information.
Itinerary
We will begin with the booksellers who occupy a small market near the university and look at how their presence through the ages has defined, and been defined by, the role of Istanbul University. Winding through the maze of streets in this part of town (not far from Sultanahmet) we'll arrive at the Grand Bazaar, arguably one of the more vibrant markets in the Middle East. As we trace this course, our docent will discuss how Istanbul's strategic position on the Bosphorus and along the Silk Road connecting Europe with the East, has placed the city at the center of trade and commerce for the last 1500 years. This is still very much the case, with most Middle Eastern businesses setting up shop here in order to trade with the West. Of course, in the background there is the Bosphorus, which continues to see several million tonnes of cargo pass through it each year.In the Grand Bazar, our docent will discuss the creation of this space by the first Ottomans, and its current life. After visiting some of the better, more authentic vendors, we'll stop for some tea or lemonade before setting you loose to shop on your own.
Depending on time, our walk may conclude with a continued stroll downhill to the Spice Bazaar down near the Golden Horn, constructed in the 17th century and an important market for international traders and the Ottoman rulers. By the end our docent will have drawn a vivid portrait of Istanbul as a crossroad of global trade and exchange, past and present.
More information from Context Travel:
- Email this trip page to a friend
-
Comments from Facebook