Greek Fener, Jewish Balat, Muslim Eyup
Off The Beaten Path
Istanbul Religion Tour
Layers of History
FAQ
These rules may seem unduly strict, but remember, you are a guest visiting sites that are regarded as a religious sanctuary.

Claire has dual degrees in English (University of Michigan) and medieval art history (Università di Roma "La Sapienza"). She lived in Rome for a decade where she taught art history at Trinity College and study abroad programs for other American universities. She has lived in Istanbul for the last twelve years. She is presently an adjunct instructor at Yeditepe University and a freelance translator. Originally from Washington, DC, Claire is very interested in social history. She is the author of "Topkapı Palace: Inside and Out", published by Citlembik in 2004.

Ebru has a BA in English Literature at Bosphorus University. After finishing her studies, she worked as an arts correspondent for a local newspaper, and then had a career as a managing editor for a monthly travel magazine: Gezi / National Geographic Traveler. A native of Istanbul and a licensed guide, she has a broad range of knowledge, and is extremely interested in history of art, architecture and religions with special emphasis on Greek Orthodoxy and Byzantine history. Ebru finished an MA program in the history of religions at the School of Theology and has been working on her thesis on prophecy in ancient Greece. Apart from guiding, she gives seminars on early Christianity, origins of Christmas, ancient Greek mythology and Vikings of the Byzantine Empire: the Varangian Guards. Currently she is studying art history at Istanbul University, and taking modern Greek and Ottoman script classes in her free-time.

Born and raised in the first Ottoman capital, Bursa, the city under Mount Olympus, Suleyman was naturally attracted to Ottoman history at a young age by his surroundıngs. As a successful young math and physics student, he was steered toward engıneerıng and business as a career path, but his true passion was history and he made a point of visiting every historical site in Turkey to explore its rich mosaic of civilizations. After a degree in finance and business, Suleyman worked with student exchange programs which together with his fluency in English and deep love of Turkish cultural heritage brought him naturally to tour guiding. Since 1995 he has shared his passion for Turkey with visitors from around the world. He is also a bonafide foodie and set up a vineyard in Cappadocia, reintroducing Syrah vines to the region. His unquenchable curiosity continues to propel him on his quest to understand the complexities of Turkey’s long history.
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