Textiles and Traditional Crafts of Turkey

This morning, we embark on a city tour of Istanbul, where some of the sights will include St Sophia Mosque. With its immense dome, it appears to hover overhead! We then view the wonderful mosaics in the upper galleries, as well as the Hippodrome, one of the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire. Here you can see the Egyptian Obelisk, brought from Egypt by Emperor Theodosius. We also see the Serpentine Column (Tripod of Plataea) from Temple of Apollo at Delphi and the Tiled (Walled) Column, erected by Constantine Porphyrogenitus at 10th century AD.

Our tour will continue with a visit to the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s most venerable monuments. It was built in 7 years (1606-1609 AD) by the order of Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. From the courtyard you will enjoy the striking view of the cascading domes and semi-domes and, once inside, you will see how the mosque got its name, viewing the colourful blue Iznik tiles that were made in the early 17th century.

This afternoon, Karin will introduce you to the ‘Turkish Delights’ project before our late afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus, the narrow strait of water separating the Asian and European continents and the life blood of Istanbul. Passing along the shores of the Bosphorus you will view magnificent palaces, restored Ottoman villas, impressive fortresses, and the waterside residences of Istanbul’s elite before returning to the hotel.

Today’s full day tour will begin with a visit to the Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts, housed in the grandest of all the non-royal Ottoman Empire palaces. Splendidly restored, the building itself is impressive, but its contents are extraordinary, with wonderful examples of antique Turkish carpets amongst other artifacts.

Ebru is the ancient Turkish art of paper marbling which originates from the Ottoman Empire and, today, you will have the opportunity to participate in a local workshop, where you will be able to get creative and design your own masterpiece!

This afternoon we will spend time at the Grand Bazaar; the largest and oldest covered Bazaar in Turkey with more than 4,000 shops offering a variety of handicrafts. Here, you will be able to see samples of Oya, a form of intricate crochet and felt making, along with carpets, rare jewels and souvenirs before we make our way to the Bazaar of Istanbul Arts where we will see examples of Turkish hand embroidery.

Leaving Istanbul, we will travel to Bursa, known for its rich history as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, silk production and its natural hot springs and thermal baths.

Today’s visit will include the Uluumay Ottoman Folk Costume & Jewellery Museum, a private ethnographic museum where we will be able to view various collections of traditional Ottoman clothing, jewellery and other craft works, dating back to the 15th century.

There will also be an Iznik tile painting workshop with a local artisan, where you will be able to create your own design. Iznik ceramic tiles, known in Turkish as Iznik cinisi, have been used in architectural applications for private residences since the late 15th century and are known for their beautiful, intricate designs and patterns, which often feature blue and white floral or geometric motifs. The tiles are traditionally found in mosques and other religious buildings, but can also be used to add colour and character to private residences.

This morning, we will visit the Umurbey Silk Production & Design Centre which, having been founded in 1810, was re-established in 2015 to breathe new life into the sericulture and silk weaving industries in Bursa following a major decline. We will hear about the rich history of Bursa Silk which dates back centuries, view the silk weaving looms and products made from Bursa Silk, and learn about the library and design workshop.

There will also be time to visit the historic Koza Han caravanserai, located in the heart of the city's market district. The rooms, once used by traders, have now become shops selling silk fabrics, scarves, shawls and clothing as well as home textile products and souvenirs.

This afternoon, we will return to the hotel where our first workshop with Karin will take place.

Departing Bursa, we will begin our journey south and travel to the ancient city of Pergamum, also known as Pergamon, where rich history intertwines with the legacy of Alexander the Great. We will visit the Acropolis, situated at the top of Kale Hill with some of the most important remains of the area.

You will also see The Library of Pergamum. Built by Eumenes II, it was one of the most important libraries in the ancient world. We then continue to Kusadasi, located on Turkeys western Aegean coast, where we will check in to our hotel.

Today we travel to Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and one of the finest and best preserved ancient cities in the world. Once a thriving port city, located at the point where the Aegean Sea met the former estuary of the River Kaystros, Ephesus has a history dating back to around 6000 BC.

During our visit, we will be able to see the stunning ruins of the Library of Celsus renowned for is statues of four female figures symbolizing Wisdom, Knowledge, Intelligence and Valor. We'll also see the Great Theatre, which was constructed of marble and could host 24 000 people, and the Temple of Hadrian, as well as other significant monuments, fountains and public baths including the foundations and fragments which remain of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world.

Before returning to the hotel, we will also visit the Traditional Turkish Handicrafts Centre – Bulbul, a local co-operative, and learn how hand-woven Turkish carpets are produced, along with other handicrafts unique to the area.

Today we will travel east to Buldan, where weaving and the textile industry has left its mark, although first impressions may challenge you! The district is known for its historical heritage and traditional textile production, but it’s not until you reach the heart of the old town, that you realise why Buldan is known as the town of fabric.

Buldan weavers were renowned for the thin handwoven fabric they produced for peshtemal or hammam towels, a staple of the Ottoman hammam culture dating back hundreds of years. It is here that you will have the opportunity to see Turkish Towel weaving, visit small shops displaying their colourful garments and homewares, and spend time in ‘Buldans’, whose origins began in 1951 when Mehmet Donmez took his first steps into the textile industry as a thread merchant. This led to producing Buldan cloth with his son, passing the production traditions through generations to produce quality textile items available to purchase to this day.

At the end of the day, we will check-in to our hotel in Pamukkale.

This morning, we enjoy a workshop with Karin in the hotel.

This afternoon we will visit the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, the thermal spa city of healing, where visitors would migrate to for relaxation, peace and hopefully find cure for conditions such a rheumatism by bathing in the natural spas.

The word Pamukkale, literally translates to ‘Cotton Castle’ which describes the stunning landscape, perfectly white travertine terraces, and shallow milky blue pools formed by calcium rich water flowing down the hill resemble a giant cotton wool ball left dry in the sun. The result is a unique natural wonder not to be missed, and at sunset the travertines turn different shades of yellow and orange casting a glow over the mountain bringing an end to our journey through Turkey.