Highlights of Sinop
Duration: 3 1/2 hours
Tour Code: SIC-001
Sinop is a small, yet interesting port city that is situated along the coast of the Black Sea and boasts a beautiful natural harbor. Legend tells us that Sinop was the birthplace of the well-known philosopher Diogenes. This pleasant half-day tour provides a great overview of the town, focusing on its three most important attractions.
Boarding your coach at the pier, you will begin with a short orientation tour of the city before making your first stop at the Aladdin Mosque, built by Aladdin Keykubat, the most renowned of the Seljuk Sultans. The mosque was badly damaged in the raid of Byzantine Greeks, but restored in 1268 by Süleyman Pervane. Subsequently, it was further restored by Celalettin Beyazit and Prince Isfendiyar in the period of Candarogullari, and later by Governor Turan Pasha during the Ottoman Era.
Continuing on, your next stop will be at the Sinop Archaeological Museum, which houses a nice collection of items gathered from the surrounding area, including a few beautiful golden icons. Also found on the grounds of the Museum are the foundations of the Temple of Serapis. From here, you will travel to the Ethnological Museum, which consists of neoclassical designed Konak (Wooden Houses) from the 19th century and gives visitors a view of Turkish arts.
Your final stop will be the market area of Sinop where you will have the chance to observe the daily life of the city, sample a glass of traditional Turkish tea and have free time to visit the shops, which sell crystal, cotton clothing, and traditional nautical wood carvings.
Following your free time, you will re-join your coach for the short transfer back to the pier.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 2 hours of moderate walking/standing over mostly even surfaces, although there are some steps to negotiate. The tour is not available to wheelchair guests. Those guests with mobility concerns are cautioned only to participate to the extent of their personal stamina and ability and may make arrangements with the guide to not participate in some of the walking portions of the tour. Weather appropriate clothing; flat, comfortable walking shoes; a hat and sunglasses are recommended. Conservative dress is required to enter the mosque - shoulders and knees must be covered. The order of the sites viewed or visited may vary.