Spiritual Sunday Walk

“The Spiritual tour took me into the hidden spiritual spaces off Istanbul's main drag, Istiklal. The tour was like having a good friend with a deep knowledge of the area showing you the sites. Deeply informative, but just casual enough that it was also thoroughly enjoyable. I look forward to discovering more about the many layers of Istanbul and highly recommend the Istanbul Tour Studio.” Read more on Tripadvisor.

Spiritual Sunday Walk

This tour offers a chance to follow the footsteps and religious rituals of different communities inhabiting the old Istanbul district of Pera (Beyoglu in Turkish). Pera’s settlement history dates back to the 5th century AD. Today, it is one of the very few places in Istanbul where the sound of Ezan (Muslim call to prayer) and the bells of Catholic Churches get mixed up in the air. The original name of the area “Peran en Sykais” is a Greek word that means “the fig field on the other side.” Pera being the little city across the old imperial Istanbul has always been home for minorities and expats. 

Today Pera neighborhood still represents the rich mosaic culture of Istanbul. On this walk, called “Spiritual Sunday Walk,” we are focusing on the past residents and owners of Istanbul from the perspective of religion and beliefs. Starting from an Armenian Gregorian Church we visit one place per each house of worship.

Highlights

• Pera was historically home to Catholic Venetian and Genoese immigrants referred to as “Levant” meaning “Eastern” in French. The Levant culture left its mark in the architectural façade of this area. Many of the monuments and landmarks carry the traces of this culture.
• From Spain to Constantinople: Sephardic Jews were another community that played an important role in the development of Pera’s culture and business.
• Ottoman Turks of Istanbul: Needless to say, Turks have also been permanent residents of the city since 1453 and they added to the richness of the area through their Muslim traditions and culinary culture. 

• An Armenian Gregorian Church
  
• A Roman Catholic Church
  
• A Greek Orthodox Church
  
• A Sufi Order at Galata Mevlevihanesi (currently closed for visitors due to renovation)
• A former Jewish synagogue
  
• One of the oldest mosques in Istanbul
• A Russian Orthodox roof-top church 
  

• Fourth Crusaders and Latin Kingdom of Constantinople
  
• Foundation of Sunni-Sufi Muslim Community by Rumi (Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi)
  
• Whirling Dervishes and Sufi Music
  
• The Ottoman era in Constantinople, its early mosques and Islamic culture 
  
• The Levant Culture (European immigrants’ daily and religious lives in Constantinople)
  
• Sephardic Jewish community and their journey to the Ottoman lands in 1492

Important note:

• The Sunday walk will end at Karaköy around 2:00 pm. For those who are interested in watching the Sema (Whirling Dervishes) there is an option to watch and experience the daily Sufi ceremony at Hodjapasha Cultural Center, everyday starting at 7:00 pm.

Who is this tour for?

• Anyone interested in finding out about the multicultural make-up of Istanbul.
• People who have an interest in history, culture, religion or architecture
• Anyone who thinks that spending a day walking around the charming backstreets of Istanbul and learning about the city sounds like the ideal Sunday.

Why book with Istanbul Tour Studio?

• Istanbul Tour Studio is rated "Excellent" on Tripadvisor. Click to read the latest reviews about us.
• We make you feel at home! Our tours give you the feeling that you are walking around Istanbul with local friends. 
• We have a team of knowledgeable personnel that are trustworthy, friendly and always on time.
• We’ll take you to the places where no other tours usually go.

How much is the private Spiritual Sunday tour per person?

 Contact us for more information