ISTANBUL & REMARKABLE CAPPADOCIA AND
THE ROMANCE OF FLORENCE & SIENA 18 DAY ITINERARY:
NOTE: Each lunch in Cappadocia will be served
in a different and truly spectacular setting, among strange and
wonderfully exotic rock formations and ruined cave dwellings of
the early Christians. Our delicious mid-day meals are totally
private, catered affairs served in our very unique ìmovable
cafeî of tables, chairs, giant umbrellas, Turkish carpets and
charcoal grills. Each interesting setting was selected by Buddy
Bombard many years ago, after much exploration by jeep and on
foot.
Day 1 Istanbul Our trip meets and begins at 7:00 p.m. at the
5 star Ciragan Palace Hotel, formerly the palace of Sultans
and our home for 3 nights in Istanbul . Welcome reception and
meet Sahli, our wonderful Trip Director who will be with us
throughout our stay in Turkey . Elegant dinner party in our
lovely hotel.
Day 2 Istanbul After breakfast weíll visit Dolmabahce Palace,
the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans, stretching for
600 yards along the the Bosphorus. With 362 rooms and 22 salons,
it is noted for its extensive interior decoration in gold, large
collection of European antiques, priceless paintings, four and a
half ton crystal chandelier and major harem. Then we'll board
our privately chartered 90 foot yacht, the Sureyya, for a lavish
luncheon cruise on the Bosphorous, sailing close to the European
and the Asian shores. You will see rows of historical Yalis, the
beautiful wooden waterside residences of the 19th century, as
well as expensive modern villas, small fishing villages, ancient
marble palaces, graceful 15th century Rumelihisar fortress, the
two giant bridges connecting Europe to Asia and charming coves
filled with fancy yachts. After our cruise, we'll visit the most
beautiful of all the imperial mosques in Istanbul , the 16th
century mosque of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, and St.
Sophiaís Basilica, built in the 6th century Dinner at the
Kervansaray Nightclub with a colorful traditional Turkish floor
show including dancing girls.
Day 3 Istanbul Morning visit to the Golden Horn, the
harbor around which Istanbul was built with streets of colorful
old wooden houses and churches from Byzantine times. Weíll visit
the Spice Bazaar, the 5th century Roman aqueduct, the site of
the famous Hippodrome where gladiators fought and chariots
raced, and the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, built in 1616 and
renowned for its 22,000 blue Iznik tiles. Lunch will be at the
Rami restaurant, followed by a tour of Topkapi Palace , the
Imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the
19th centuries. With over 6 million square feet and itís palace
population of over 10,000, it was truly a small city. It is the
oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the world with
lavish gold, silver and jewel collections, a jeweled throne room
and the remains of a 400-room harem pavilion. We'll visit the
Basilica cistern built in 532 with 236 Corinthian columns
standing in 3 feet of water. It is a remarkably large
underground reservoir. Our last stop will be the Grand Bazaar,
with 65 streets, 18 gates and 4000 shops all under one roof.
Dinner at the Korfez Restaurant on the Asian shore of the
Bosphorous, arriving by private motor launch.
Day 4 Istanbul to Cappadocia Fly to Ankara by plane and visit
the outstanding Museum of Anatolian Civilization to better
understand the strangely beautiful region we are about to
explore. Proceed to Cappadocia by private coach and check into 4
star Dedeman Hotel for 6 nights. Dinner will be in the hotel's
private, penthouse dining room.
Day 5 After breakfast a mid-morning balloon adventure through
the extraordinary landscape of Cappadocia. Then our guide
will take us to The Open Air Museum in Goreme with its 16
frescoed monastic churches from the 3rd to the 10th centuries,
carved into the rock. Later we'll visit a local carpet maker for
a highly fascinating visit, watching the weaving of hand made
rugs from cotton, wool and silk. Lunch will be in the remarkable
rock valley of Uchisar, then a guided visit to the 7th century
rock cave dwellings of this intriguing place and its
preposterous towering rock fortress. Dinner will be in a fine
restaurant in Urgup.
Day 6 Mid-morning balloon adventure in Cappadocia. Visit
a ceramic workshop in the caves of Avanos, to see how fine
quality pieces are designed and produced. Lunch will be among
the amazing rock formations of White Valley, called ìFairy
Chimneysî, followed by a guided visit into the ancient
underground city of Kaymakli. Dug during the 7th and 8th
centuries, it is a maze of tunnels and dwelling chambers for
approximately 5,000 people and their animals. It descends 7
stories underground! Our spectacular dinner, arranged just for
us in the Outdoor Musuem, is an elaborate catered affair by
lantern-light. A private performance of Whirling Dervishes is a
moving and mesmerizing experience.
Day 7 Mid-morning balloon adventure in spectacular
Cappadocia, followed by a guided visit to the National Park
of Zelve and the ruined cave dwellings of approximately 8,000
early Christians. Lunch in the visually spectacular setting of
the ancient hand hewn cave church called Gomede. Time for
shopping in the colorful old markets of Urgup. Dinner this
evening will be, with special permission, privately catered and
served to us in the exotic hand-hewn rock chambers of the 10th
century Christian church, Avnali.
Day 8 Mid-morning balloon adventure across Cappadocia
followed by a guided visit to the town of Ortahisar and its
remarkable 10-story tall rock fortress. Lunch will be out
among the most unlikely eroded rock formations of Pasabag
followed by a leisurely stroll through this wonderland of
shapes. You'll really want your camera for this one. Dinner will
be on the terrace of the attractive restaurant, the Ataman,
overlooking the strange and fascinating erosion formations of
Goreme.
Day 9 Mid-morning balloon adventure and our last exploration
of this compelling landscape. Our final lunch in Cappadocia
will be in a pretty green glade under the enormous and complex
ruined cliff dwelling village of Cavusin . After lunch we'll
depart by luxury coach for Ankara where we will check in to the
Ankara Hilton for overnight, and to celebrate our memorable trip
with a farewell dinner and graduation ceremony.
Day 10 Today we'll transfer by plane to Florence , for two
nights at the 5 star Westin Excelsior Hotel. This evening's
dinner will be in the elegant restaurant of our lovely Florence
hotel.
Day 11 We'll enjoy a full day with our private guide in the
nearby 16th century walled town of Lucca, the birthplace of
Puccini. This ancient Italian town with its narrow streets,
alleys, and archways is full of wonderful old architecture,
towers, and palazzo, with churches and museums recorded as early
as the year 768. Lucca boasts a wealth of precious art, shops
with local specialties and leather, and some of the region's
finest authentic cuisine. Late afternoon return to Westin
Excelsior for dinner and overnight, and our Florence/Siena trip
commencing tomorrow.
Day 12 Today we'll meet our fellow Tuscany guests for lunch
at 1:00 p.m. For two days our private guide will immerse us in
magnificent Florence, founded in 5 B.C. and one of the
world's most cherished cities for its priceless art and
architecture from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. After lunch
our guide will escort us on a panoramic city tour including the
Piazza Michelangelo and Piazza Santa Croce. Enjoy an elegant
evening at Ristorante La Giostra, owned by the Hapsburg Lorena
princes, and two nights at Westin Excelsior Hotel.
Day 13 Our exceptional guide will have secured pre-reserved
tickets for all of our venues in Florence . Our full-day
guided walk of the city begins with Piazza San Marco and the
restored 15th century Dominican monastery, whose museum and
cells houses famous masterpieces such as the Crucifixion, the
Annunciation, and a fresco of The Last Supper. Next we'll
explore the Piazza Duomo with its resplendent 13th century
cathedral and cupola, perhaps the most recognized sight in
Tuscany , with origins of its bapistry dating to Roman times.
Next is the Academy of Fine Arts and an unhurried visit to
Michaelangeloís original statue of David, carved by the 26 year
old from 1501-1504. Relax for lunch at chic Frescobaldi Wine
Bar, continuing to Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important
museums in the world for its works by Botticelli, da Vinci,
Raphael, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt. Stroll the Ponte Vecchio,
the oldest bridge in Florence , and since the 15th century lined
with interesting shops. We'll return to our elegant hotel then
gather for a truly fun Tuscan evening at Il Latini.
Day 14 A stay in Florence is not complete without exploring
the Palatine Gallery at Pitti Palace, a collection of
masterís paintings and sculptures owned largely by the Medici
family and left to the people of Florence . Afterward there will
be time for shopping then transfer to Siena for luncheon as the
private guests of our good friend the Countess Sandra Bianchi
Bandinelli in her 16th century Villa di Geggiano. Her son,
Andrea, flies frequently in our balloons and takes great
pleasure in serving us wine that he produces from the family
vineyards and showing us the family estate. We'll check in for
four nights at Siena's 5 star Grand Hotel Continental, a
lovingly restored 17th century palace just steps from the Piazza
Del Campo, then gather for a fun dinner party in downtown Siena
.
Day 15 Our early morning balloon adventure takes us across
Siena's ancient rooftops, waving to the Sienese who lean
from their windows to greet us with a cheerful ìBuon Giorno!î
From our balloons this medieval town is visually sensational and
these city crossings are spectacular! Mid-morning our guide will
bring the story of Siena into focus as we walk through the
enchanting town of 14th century private palaces and the great
cathedral. Today we are the private luncheon guests of our
gracious friend, Marissa Cardini, in her elegant, art-filled
penthouse overlooking the town's ancient rooftops. Her daughter,
Fiama, enjoys flying with us and is a treasured source of
insights into the Sienese culture. Late afternoon free for
personal pursuits with dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Day 16 Our early morning balloon adventure takes off just
outside the 13th century ramparts of the pristine, medieval town
of San Gimignano. We'll have a spectacular aerial view of
this walled architectural jewel and the surrounding vineyard
covered hills, appearing almost exactly as they did 700 years
ago. Enjoy a walking tour with our guide along the narrow
streets lined with medieval houses. Today we are the private
luncheon guests of our close friends, Princess Irina
Guicciardini-Strozzi and her husband, Prince Girolamo at their
ancestral home, Villa Cusona. Dating to 994 and chosen for the
film, The Winds of War, the estate is known for its magnificent
Vernaccia wine. The Strozzi family played an important role
during the Italian Renaissance, and one of the most imposing
palaces of the time is Palazzo Strozzi in Florence , now the
city's convention center. The Strozzis fly frequently in our
balloons and Princess Irina joins our January Winter Festival
trips each year in Gstaad , Switzerland . After an exceptional
afternoon with this congenial family and a tour of their
impressive estate, we will return to our hotel for personal time
then gather for a festive dinner.
Day 17 Early morning balloon adventure across Siena , through
olive groves and hilltop fortresses to just-awakening locals in
their gardens. Today's private luncheon is hosted by our
good friends, the Baron and Baroness Bettino and Constanza
Ricasoli at Castello di Brolio, the family's massive historic
fortress since the 11th century. Appearing in the region as
warrior knights, the Ricasoliís conquered a vast part of
southern Chianti and built 11 castles to protect their land.
Three hundred years ago they began raising grapes, and today
Brolio is one of Italyís most prestigious wine estates. Our host
today is the 21st Baron Ricasoli, and the creation of Chianti
Classico and Classico Reserva, which lifted Chianti to a level
of greatness, was the work of the Baronís great grandfather at
Brolio. Luncheon will be served in the ancient Knightís Hall
where armor is still kept, which was also the ìWar Roomî when
Florence , using this castle, conquered Siena in 1555. The
Ricasolis greatly enjoy flying in our balloons and helping us to
create some of the elegance our guests enjoy with us in Siena .
We'll return to our hotel for personal time then meet for an
authentic Tuscan dinner.
Day 18 Romantic Tuscany is spread before us during our last
early morning balloon adventure in Siena. We'll tiptoe
across the historic rooftops, past church spires, gothic towers
and through the old cobblestone streets for one last, very
special look at a place you'll never again experience in quite
the same way. After lunch we will return to the Westin Excelsior
Hotel in Florence , arriving at approximately 2:30 p.m.
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