Istanbul is a city that hosts people from different religions. Get ready to explore Jewish culture by the Jewish Heritage Tour in this culturally rich city.
Istanbul is a city where people of different religions have lived together in peace and harmony for centuries. This harmony, which adds cultural color to the city, will attract you. One of the religious groups that contributed to the deep-rooted history of Istanbul is the Jews. Currently, more than 15,000 Jews live in Turkey. If you want to examine Jewish culture closely with the Jewish Heritage Tour, here is the tour content:
On our tour, we will see the Galata Tower, one of the most famous symbols of the city, and the old Jewish quarter in Galata. Then we will visit Neve Shalom and the Ashkenazi Synagogue and transfer to Balat. Here we will visit the Ahrida Synagogue and the Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim) built in the 15th century. Then we will come to Ortaköy, the last stop of our tour. There are claims that the most crowded non-Muslim community in Ortaköy in the 17th century was the Jews. Here we end our tour with a visit to the Etz-Ahayim Synagogue.
Tour Highlights:
-Galata Tower
Galata Tower is one of the structures that make up the silhouette of Istanbul. It was built in 528 by the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius Oilosuz. Throughout history, it has been used for various purposes such as keeping prisoners of war, fire towers, and the observatory.
-Neve Shalom Synagogue
It is the first synagogue in Istanbul and it is quite lively. Weddings, funerals, and religious holidays are held here.
-Ashkenazi Synagogue
It was built in 1900 by Ashkenazi Jews who settled in the Ottoman Empire. Ashkenazi Synagogue operates for weekday morning prayers and Shabbat (Saturday) prayers.
-Ahrida Synagogue
Ahrida Synagogue was built in the 15th century. It has been taken under protection by the decision of the High Council for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets dated September 16, 1987.
-Golden Horn
The Golden Horn, which served as a maritime center during the Byzantine period, attracts the attention of tourists due to its beauty and rooted history. It was given this name because it resembles a horn due to its long and narrow shape.
-Ortakoy
It is known that the Jewish presence in Ortaköy dates back to the Byzantine period. We can have an idea about Jewish history thanks to many structures in Ortaköy such as Etz Hayim Synagogue, Ortaköy Cemetery, El Orfelinato Orphanage, and Jewish Primary School.
Take a day to discover the traces left by the Jewish community in Istanbul, Jewish culture and history and join the Jewish Heritage Tour.
