Day 3 - Istanbul, Türkiye (Turkey), October 22, 2023 - St. Sophia; board Azamara Onward cruise ship

Today we were again bused into the mosque area to visit St. Sophia and the hippodrome.  Afterwords we headed to the docks to board our cruise ship, the Azamara Onward. 

Hagia Sophia (lit. 'Holy Wisdom'), officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, is a mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The last of three church buildings to be successively erected on the site by the Eastern Roman Empire, it was completed in 537 AD. The site was an Eastern Orthodox church from 360 AD to 1204, when it was converted to a Catholic church following the Fourth Crusade. It was reclaimed in 1261 and remained Eastern Orthodox until the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It served as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. In 2020, the site once again became a mosque.

More info:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

The Hippodrome of Constantinople (today Sultanahmet Square) was the center of social life in the Byzantine Empire for centuries. The Hippodrome, where relentless chariot races were held, was also the scene of many rebellions and massacres.

Today, the Hippodrome is located in Sultanahmet, in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City. Focusing on Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, visitors can overlook the Hippodrome. However, two of the oldest historical monuments of Istanbul, such as the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column, are located here.

Serpent Column

We enjoyed the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as we explored the Spice Market in the Grand Bazaar.  Shops sell everything from herbs to gold.

From historic Istanbul we traveled by bus to the port where we boarded our "hotel" for the remainder of our trip.

Our first port call will be at Kavala, Greece, where we will visit the biblical ruins of Philippi