Social Program (Tentative)

A tour of the historical Sarayburnu (the Seraglio Point) district (http://wiki.worldflicks.org/sarayburnu.html) to some of the following sites is being organized as part of the conference social program:

Topkapi Palace (the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign):
http://www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr/ 

Blue (Sultan Ahmed) Mosque, (known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior, built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I (1590-1617),  comprising a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque

The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) (one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily):
http://www.grandbazaarturkey.com/

Hagia Sophia (a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum. From 360 until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

The İstanbul Archaeological Museums (one of the 10 most important world-class museums designed, housing various artifacts from civilizations that had left their traces to different periods of the history)
http://www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr/main_page