The Ottoman Empire in Europe
July 17, 2023
Willkommen in Wien, the imperial capital of the Habsburgs! Vienna is home to grand museums, magnificent palaces, and a bustling cafe scene. Depending on your arrival time, the morning and afternoon are yours to explore this charming city. You could enjoy a walk around Stephansplatz and admire the cathedrals, statues, and bustling streets.
This evening, we will take a trip up to Kahlenberg mountain - where the Holy Roman Empire famously defeated the Ottoman Turks in 1683 - to enjoy wine and a reception dinner at a traditional Austrian Heuriger.
July 18, 2023
We started the day with a walking tour of the historic downtown district, where an expert local guide showed us the glory of the former Imperial capital including the Ringstrasse, Hoffburg Palace complex, Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
July 19, 2023
This morning, we split up to explore six historic cafes in Vienna. While many equate England and France as the start to the Enlightenment, Vienna itself hosted an array of academies and salons, thanks to its coffeehouse culture. We met back up to compare notes over lunch at the Naschmarkt - the largest open-air market in Austria.
July 20, 2023
We said auf wiedersehen to Austria and followed the Danube River east to Slovakia. Stopping in the capital city Bratislava, we took a guided historical tour through its medieval old town.
July 21, 2023
This morning, we met our local Hungarian guide for a sightseeing tour, where we dove into the thousand-year history of Budapest. The city itself is split in half by the Danube River - the Buda district on one side and the Pest district on the other (hence the city's name!).
July 22, 2023
This morning, we caught a flight to Istanbul, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Straddling Europe and Asia and sitting on the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul has been an essential and instrumental city for millenia.
July 23, 2023
Today started with a walking sightseeing tour of the old city. From Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul, this imperial capital has been the cradle of civilization and religion for centuries. On our tour, we walked along the former Hippodrome, marveled at the Blue Mosque, and definitely cried inside the inimitable Hagia Sophia.
July 24, 2023
Our last full day in the city started at an Islamic madrasa that now functions as an active art studio. Our master artist taught us the ways of marbling, and we created our own floral or mosaic masterpiece.
From here, we walked to the Topkapi Palace, the 15th-century palace of the Ottomans. On our guided tour of the palace, we walked the footsteps of Suleiman the Magnificent as we learned about the rich history of the Ottomans, who ruled from 1453-1923.
After freshening up at the hotel, we embarked on a cruise on the Bosphorus, where we had drinks and snacks as we marveled at Istanbul from the water.
Once we have soaked up the city from the sea, we docked at the newly revitalized Galantaport, and headed to a delicious farewell dinner.
