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Duration : Half day 4-5 hours || Full day 7-8 hours (approx.)
Galata Tower
Neve Shalom Synagogue
Ashkenazi Synagogue
Zulfaris Synagogue (Jewish Museum of Istanbul)
Balat
Ahrida (Ohrid) Synagogue
Jewish Cemetery
Galata Tower
Neve Shalom Synagogue
Ashkenazi Synagogue
Zulfaris Synagogue (Jewish Museum of Istanbul)
Schedule details
Jewish Heritage Tours in Istanbul, begin of Sephardic history at the Galata Quarter, a region which had been almost completely Jewish for more than 400 years. Today, Galata is known throughout the world by its huge tower, built in 1303 by the Genovese. Visit the Galata Tower, the office of the Chief Rabbinate is also located in Galata today, there are 16 Synagogues in Istanbul that are still in use.
First, visit the Neve Shalom Synagogue, used for most of the community functions today, as well as the Ashkenazi Synagogue dating from the nineteenth century and the only Ashkenazi Synagogue in Istanbul, originally built by the Austrian Jews. Stop at the Zulfaris Synagogue, which now also serves as the Museum of Turkish Jewish Museum since 2001. Its name comes from the street where it is located, which was called Zulf-u arus (present day Percemli Sokak) in Karakoy, which means “Bridal Curls” in both versions, as it was here that the brides, over the centuries, would walk by to go to the synagogue to get married. “Half day tour returning to where the tour concludes”.
” Full day tour ; You will continue to Lunch at a local Seafood Restaurant. (Lunch fee is not included) Drive to Balat, a Jewish working-class district on the shores of the Golden Horn, which absorbed most of the settlers in the fifteenth century from Spain.
Visit the recently restored Ahrida (Ohrid) Synagogue, originally built in the 15th century and is the earliest synagogue in Istanbul. The original 20-foot long oak bimah (teva), shaped either like Noah’s Ark or, like the Ottoman ship which brought the Sephardim to freedom from Spain to Turkey, can still be seen. Then visit the Jewish Cemetery before returning to where you tour concludes.
Inclusions
Pickup and drop-off included
Half Day Tour Price
Full Day Tour Price
Payment
Additional information
- Some Synagogues may not be accessible at the time of your tour. We need your full name, birthday and passport copies by email or fax in order to get the special permission for visiting the Synagogues in Istanbul.
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability.
- At time of booking, Cruise Ship passengers must provide the following details under Special Requirements: Ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time.
- Children 6-18 years must be accompanied by an adult
- Please enter your preferred pickup time in the Special Requirements box at the time of booking, and reconfirm 48 hours prior to the tour’s departure time.
- Ephesus requires walking long distances over uneven surfaces, comfortable clothing and closed toe, sensible walking shoes are recommended. Sunglasses and sunscreen are suggested.
- We will ensure your timely return to the Kusadasi or Izmir port for this activity. If you are not returned to the ship in time to board, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call.
Make the difference between a good trip and an outstanding one !
Balat in Istanbul has been one of my favorite sites of photography. As the restoration of this town which had been abandoned by it’s prosperous inhabitants mostly Non Muslims, long ago, now receiving the attention and support of UNESCO and The European Union, I felt the urge to bring my contribution portraying the lives of the recent inhabitants, working class migrants and multichildren families.
Walking the streets of Balat with my camera where ropes with colorful laundry drawn from old balconies across the street, dance to the tunes of their folk music sounding through open windows is commonplace, happy children, nice to passers by, play their marble games on the dusty ground, as cars carefully navigate around them, before they are called home for dinner by anxious mothers.
I observe: Balat has a magic where it’s rich cultural past always reigns it is somehow passed onto the new dwellers regardless who they are.
Hay que ir a turquia u no olviden visitar istanbul junto con sus museos y mezquitas
Balat used the be the first Jewish Settlement. Today is is mixture of different religions. The buildings are still not spoiled and not destroyed by the modern architecture. Easy to walk around without the vendors and to see David's Star carved to some old houses. Ahrida Synagogue the oldest one in Istanbul must be visited.
There also are in Haskoy two Jewish cemeteries; Sepharads and Caraim.
The Sepharad cemetery is the oldest active cemetery in Istanbul. This cemetery has been in use for over 400 years. In time the area occupied by the cemetery has changed and became smaller. During the construction of the Halic Bridge and the highway, hundreds of graves have been moved. The Midrash of the cemetery was restored in 2005.
The second cemetery in Haskoy is the only active Caraim cemetery in Istanbul. The two cemeteries are located next to each other. The Caraim cemetery was built by the order of Sultan Mahmud II. This proves that the Sultan accepted the Caraim Jews as a minority and not as a congregation belonging to the Jewish community. There is also a mausoleum in Haskoy’s Caraim cemetery.
Colorful but really old houses line the narrow streets. This area is one of the best locations in Istanbul for street photography. Just wonder aound the area and take you map with you.
Istanbulll es una locura donde vayas hay historia y una cultura de miedos
Los tour privados generalmentw nos llevan a algunas partes pero este creo que vimos mas de la mitad de istanbul y fue muy economico
There are so many historical sites in Istanbul. Neve Shalom is one of the most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul. The tour guide was knowledgeable and the history of the synagogue is very interesting.
Es miatica magica explendida uno de los nombres que le entrege a istanbul
Me gusto el bosforo y la noche turca en istanbul el tour privado fue muy bueno