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Private Jewish Heritage Tour
Pick up at the hotel or port. Proceed to downtown
Beyoglu & Pera and take a stroll down Istiklal Avenue to the
Galata quarter, a Jewish neighborhood for centuries with
many synagogues and bustling street life.
There we visit the Ashkenazi Synagogue, which serves the
community of European Jews. En route, see the cosmopolitan
nature of the city passing historic diplomatic posts, handsome
old houses, fashionable boutiques and cafes. Stop-off at
Galata Tower, once the high-point of the Genovese fortified
town, from which there are spectacular views over the city.
Also visit the Neve Shalom Synagogue, the largest modern
synagogue in the city center to a strong Jewish community. Later
in the afternoon, we cross to the Western shore of the Golden
Horn to take a stroll through the atmospheric old streets in
the Jewish quarter of Balat, where many Jewish immigrants
settled to help repopulate the city under Sultan Beyazit II.
Today the Star of David can be seen on the facades of
some buildings.
Also in this colorful area, we visit the Ottoman Baroque style
Ahrida Synagogue, with beautiful furnishings, including
the bema (pulpit) shaped like the prow of a ship. Drop off to
the hotel or cruise ship port. End of the Jewish Heritage Tour.
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