Florence was founded by ancient Romans in the 1st century BC and became an important commercial center during imperial times. The most glorious period of Florentine history came centuries later during the period of the Republic of Florence and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Between […]
All posts filed under “City Life”
Athens | City and Museums
We spent a full morning in Athens on a walking tour of the city, and explored a variety of museums in small groups–the Archeological Museum, the Byzantine Museum, and the Benaki Museum. ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece […]
Thessaloniki
After two long, full days of bus travel, our group was grateful to have a bit of down time in the seaside city of Thessaloniki. A bustling ancient port, and the second-largest city in modern Greece, it was the perfect place to relax at the […]
Istanbul | Chora Church | Grand Bazaar
Our first day in Istanbul started with a visit to the famed Chora monastery, one of the most important buildings in Byzantine Constantinople. We stopped for lunch at the Grand Bazaar, home to a vast array of spices, textiles, and of course, Turkish Delight! […]
Istanbul | Whirling Dervish
During our second evening in Istanbul, we were treated to a private concert of Turkish music and a traditional Sema “whirling ceremony” by Hakan Talu and his Sufi musicians. Seated in the round at the Galata Mevlivihane in Istanbul, we were mesmerized by the music, ritual, […]