Reservations for accompanying persons' activities will have to be made at the same time as reservations for accommodation and for the pre and post-congress programme, with our agency:


DESTINATION PLUS
58, rue Saint Lambert – 75015 Paris – France
Tel.: +33 1 56 08 37 37 – Fax: +33 1 56 08 37 38
Email : congres-uia@destinationplus.fr
Website: www.destinationplus-uia.com


You will also be able to register on the spot in the Swissôtel The Bosphorus at the DESTINATION PLUS desk, depending upon availability for the desired excursions.

The final departure times for the accompanying persons’ activities will be given in the final programme and displayed at the DESTINATION PLUS reception desk and in all the congress hotels.

If the number of registered participants is inferior to the minimum indicated, the activity may be postponed or cancelled.

When you register, kindly indicate the desired date and language for the concerned activity on the DESTINATION PLUS reservation form.

In case of no show for an activity which you have registered for, no reimbursement shall be made.



A - DISCOVERY OF THE TOPKAPI PALACE
Saturday, October 30, Sunday 31 and Monday, November 1

Duration: Half-day (Morning)
Time: will be confirmed onsite
Minimum nb of participants: 10
Price: € 40

Departure from the congress hotel by bus with a guide to explore the Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans, located on an extraordinary site. The amazing complex of buildings spreads out over one of Istanbul’s seven hills, overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn.

Truly a city within the city and a museum, famous for its treasures, testifying its sumptuous past, the palace consists of a series of pavilions dotted amidst flourishing gardens, with a harem, mosques, libraries, external services – all of it surrounded by high walls flanked by watchtowers.

Return to the congress hotel at the end of the morning.



B - DISCOVERY OF THE HIPPODROME, THE ST SOPHIA CHURCH, THE BLUE MOSQUE
Saturday, October 30, Sunday 31 and Tuesday, November 2

Duration: Half-day (Afternoon)
Time: will be confirmed on site
Minimum nb of participants: 10
Price: € 40

Departure from the congress hotel by bus with a guide to the hippodrome square, located in the heart of the old city, followed by a tour of the various sites on foot.

The Hippodrome Square, a long green esplanade, venue for meetings and festivals, hub of ancient Constantinople, spreads out between the St. Sophia Church and the Blue Mosque. It was built in the year 203 by the Roman Emperor, Septimius Severus. Today, the Hippodrome harbours three monuments that should not be missed: the Obelisk of Theodosius 1^st, the walled column and the serpentine column.

The 5^th century St. Sophia church, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, signifying Church of Holy Wisdom, remained the largest Christian church until Constantinople's conquest in 1453.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque (1617) is admittedly one of the most famous and beautiful mosques of Istanbul and the Muslim world in general.

A masterpiece of elegance, harmony and grandeur combined, it is the only mosque in Turkey to have six minarets.

Return to the congress hotel at the end of the afternoon.


C - COMBINED A + B VISITS WITH LUNCH
Sunday, October 31 

Duration: Full day

Time: will be confirmed on site

Minimum nb of participants: 10

Price: € 95 (lunch, drinks not included)

The various activities are described before.

Lunch will take place at the Konyali restaurant, located in the Topkapi Palace enclosure, offering a magnificent view from its terrace.

D - VISIT OF ST SAVIOUR IN CHORA, THE EGYPTIAN MARKET, THE SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Saturday, October 30, Monday, November 1 and Tuesday 2

Duration: Half-day (Morning)
Time: will be confirmed on site
Minimum nb of participants: 10
Price: € 40

Departure from the congress hotel by bus with a guide for the St. Saviour in Chora Museum, where you will admire the most beautiful Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in Istanbul. They describe the life of Jesus and Mary, various saints of the Church and other important characters of the Byzantine period.

You will then enter the world of the mystical East. You will follow the dozens of scents wafting through the alleys of the Egyptian market – the spice market that was built in 1663 – which owes its name to the taxes that were deducted in Cairo. It was built within the precincts of the New Mosque (Yeni Cami). Much smaller than the Grand Bazaar, it sells mostly food products (spices, dry fruits, pastirma, sujuk, lokums, etc.).

This market is one of Istanbul’s most enchanting sites!

You will end your tour with a visit to the city’s largest mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Suleiman the Magnificent on the third hill of old Istanbul, towering majestically above the Golden Horn.

The greatest success of the architect, Sinan, was built between 1550 and 1557 and is admittedly Istanbul's most beautiful mosque.

Return to the congress hotel at the end of the morning.

E - THE GRAND BAZAAR WITH A GUIDE
Saturday, October 30, Monday, November 1 and Tuesday 2

Duration: Half-day (Afternoon)
Time: will be confirmed on site
Minimum nb of participants: 6
Price: € 35

Departure by bus from the congress hotel.

To ensure that you do not get lost in this market, which is really like Ali Baba’s cave, and to help you

"bargain" for your purchases, the visit will be organized in small groups of 6 persons, accompanied by a guide.

The Grand Bazaar, a covered market built in 1461, has over four thousand shops, several kilometres of streets, mosques, banks, restaurants and workshops.

Return to the congress hotel at the end of the afternoon.


F - TURKISH ARTS WORKSHOP AT THE MEDRESSA CAFER AĞA SCHOOL
Sunday, October 31 and Tuesday, November 2

Duration: Half-day (Morning)
Time: will be confirmed on site
Minimum nb of participants: 10
Price: € 55

Departure from the congress hotel by bus with a guide.

The Turkish Arts’ workshop will take place in the Medressa Cafer Ağa school, located in the heart of the old city, and built in the 16th century for the head of white Cafer Ağa eunuchs by the famous architect, Mimar Sinan. Restored in the 1980s, the building now holds shops, crafts workshops and a café.

You will have the opportunity to discover one of the following Turkish arts during a workshop:

▪ Ebrû (Painting on marble paper)
▪ Calligraphy
▪ Drawing of Turkish designs on ceramic

The training course will last between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the number of participants.

Return to the congress hotel at the end of the morning.

G - RELAXATION BREAK AT THE TURKISH BATH
Sunday, October 31 and Monday, November 1

Duration: Half-day (Afternoon)
Time: will be confirmed on site
Minimum nb of participants: 10
Price: € 65

Departure from the congress hotel by bus with a guide. You will be welcomed in one of the most ancient hammams of the Ottoman period. In the vaulted building, characteristic of Ottoman architecture, you will wear the traditional pestemal waistcloth. You can lie down and rest around the hot stone, called the "stomach stone", and, if you like, have a massage. Tea and Turkish delights will be waiting for you after the session… Return to the congress hotel at the end of the afternoon.

H - TURKISH COOKING CLASS
Monday, November 1

Duration: Half-day (Morning)
Time: will be confirmed on site
Minimum nb of participants: 15
Price: € 120 (lunch, drinks not included)

Departure from the congress hotel by bus with a guide, to visit the bustling pedestrian - only Pera district.
You will take part in a 3-hour Turkish cooking class at the Cooking Institute.

The course will be followed by a tasting lunch.

Return to the congress hotel at the beginning of the afternoon.