Treasures of Turkey & Georgia

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East Meets West: Treasures of Turkey & Georgia

Dear Traveler,

Please join Museum Travel Alliance from August 30-September 12, 2020 on East Meets West: Treasures of Turkey & Georgia. Explore spectacular medieval churches and monasteries in Georgia, including the UNESCO- listed 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, along the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains. Behold the opulent treasures of splendid Istanbul including the 6th-century Hagia Sophia. Take a curator-led tour of Tbilisi's Georgian National Museum, featuring centuries of precious archaeological finds, jewelry, a wealth of rare ancient coins, paintings, embroideries, and more. We are delighted that this trip will be accompanied by Deniz Beyazit as our lecturer from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This trip is sponsored by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We expect this program to fill quickly. Please call the Museum Travel Alliance at (855) 533-0033 or (212) 302-3251 or email [email protected] to reserve a place on this trip. We hope you will join us. Sincerely,

Jim Friedlander President MUSEUM TRAVEL ALLIANCE 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10018 | 212-302-3251 or 855-533-0033 | Fax 212-344-7493 [email protected] | www.museumtravelalliance.com BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Travel with August 30–September 12, 2020 The Met BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB East Meets West: Treasures of Turkey & Georgia with Deniz Beyazit Associate Curator, Department of Islamic Art BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB East Meets West: Treasures of Turkey & Georgia

Dear Members and Friends of The Metropolitan Museum of Art,

Join me this August in a region I call home, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. In beautiful Turkey and Georgia, countries whose histories are intertwined, discover a fascinating blend of cultures, from Byzantine and Ottoman to the lesser-known Seljuq. Over 12 days, we will stay in luxurious hotels, including one converted from ancient caves; enjoy exclusive visits to intriguing museums; and savor many unique experiences, from a breathtaking whirling dervish ceremony to a spectacular private cruise on a transcontinental strait.

I am originally from Turkey, and as a Met curator of Islamic art, I have organized several exhibitions that showcase the treasures of my nation and place them in a broader BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB historic context, including the decorative carpets that I remember fondly from my childhood. I Traveling with You am excited to take you behind the scenes of vibrant Istanbul, where sparkling medieval palaces, Deniz Beyazit mosques, and monuments like the iconic Hagia Sophia coexist with a thriving contemporary art scene. In central Turkey, we will journey to the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia. Here, Deniz Beyazit is an Associate Curator in the we will float over awe-inspiring rock formations on an optional hot-air balloon ride and explore Department of Islamic Art at The Met. A underground cities and Byzantine cave churches adorned with frescoes. graduate of the Sorbonne in Paris (2009), she specializes in Medieval Islamic and Ottoman Across the border in Georgia, we will roam Tbilisi’s charming Old Town and the exceptional art and architecture. She has taught Islamic Georgian National Museum, whose priceless splendors we will admire with a curator. In the art and architecture at the University of countryside, home to ancient vineyards and well-preserved early Christian history, highlights Zurich and lectured and published on various include a visit to a nunnery set amid stunning mountains and private wine tastings on aspects of Islamic art. At The Met, Deniz was gorgeous hilltops. involved in the renovation of the Department of Islamic Art’s galleries. Among her many I hope you’ll join me on this journey filled with once-in-a-lifetime sights. installations and exhibitions, she curated the inaugural exhibition The Making of a Sincerely, Collection: Islamic Art at The Met (2011) and Deniz Beyazit Carpets of the East in Paintings in the West Associate Curator, Department of Islamic Art (2014). She was also one of the curators of The Metropolitan Museum of Art the landmark exhibition Court and Cosmos:

The Great Age of the Seljuqs (2016).

Trip Highlights — Admire Istanbul’s opulent Ottoman and Byzantine art and monuments, from the mammoth 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque, with its four minarets and 10 beautiful balconies; to the Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, with its vibrantly colored and richly detailed mosaics

— Delight in an exclusive cocktail reception with a live chamber music trio performance at the splendid 6th-century Basilica Cistern, the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul

— Relax on a specially arranged cruise along the intercontinental strait of Bosphorus, taking in spectacular views of Istanbul’s magnificent skyline

— Float over the jagged landscapes of Cappadocia, an early Christian region of Turkey that is home to marvelous rock-hewn churches, caves, and cone-shaped geological formations, on an optional hot-air balloon ride

— Take a curator-led tour of Tbilisi’s Georgian National Museum, featuring centuries of precious archaeological finds, jewelry, a wealth of rare ancient coins, paintings, embroideries, and more Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, photo by Jay Hunt BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

Stepantsminda Black Alaverdi Telavi Gori Mtskheta Sea Sighnaghi GEORGIATbilisi Istanbul

TURKEY

Cappadocia Kayseri

Photos clockwise from top right: Cathedral of Svetitskhoveli, Mtskheta, photo by Viktor K; Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, photo by Patrick; Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul; Blue Mosque, Istanbul, photo by Jay Hunt; Bridge of Peace, Tbilisi, photo by Alex Travel; Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, photo by gpparker; Regional map. Front cover: Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66). Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1938 [38.149.2]. Back cover: The Blue Mosque, Istanbul (top); Hot-air balloons over Cappadocia, photo by Patrick Down (bottom). BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB East Meets West: Treasures of Turkey & Georgia August 30–September 12, 2020

Fountain of Ahmed III. Arrive at the Carpet Church of St. Stephen of the Bulgars, notable Museum, where we will explore some of the because it is made entirely of iron. Following best carpets and kilims that were woven at lunch at leisure, cruise along the Bosphorus, a 19- the Ottoman court and in Anatolian towns mile waterway that connects the Black Sea and and villages. After lunch, venture to the grand the Sea of Marmara. Along this narrow strait that Süleymaniye Mosque, the great masterpiece forms part of a continental boundary, enjoy views by 16th-century architect Sinan, and the of Europe on one side and Asia on the other. nearby Rüstem Paşa, another of his beautiful Before dinner, attend a mesmerizing whirling Ottoman mosques, which has the most varied dervish ceremony, whose origins can be traced to and exquisite Iznik tiles, named for their the 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. B, D Spice Bazaar, Istanbul Turkish town of origin. Visit the colorful Spice Bazaar before returning to the hotel, where Istanbul / Kayseri / Cappadocia Departure dinner and the evening are at leisure. B, L Sunday, September 6 Sunday, August 30 Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Depart for Istanbul, Turkey on an overnight flight. Istanbul Cappadocia in central Turkey. On arrival at Thursday, September 3 Kayseri Airport, continue to the city center Istanbul, Turkey Visit the Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior to explore the ancient Seljuq monuments in Monday, August 31 in Chora, with its brilliantly colorful mosaics. Kayseri. A highlight in the historic center is Arrive this morning in fascinating Istanbul, Make your way to the architect Sinan’s first the Hunat Hatun Complex. Built by Empress former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman major imperial commission, Şehzade Mosque. Mahperi Hunat, wife of the great Seljuq Sultan Empires. Transfer to the Four Seasons Often referred to as the Prince’s Mosque, it Alaeddin Keykubad, the complex includes Sultanahmet Hotel, where we have arranged was built to commemorate the early death the great mosque, Hunat’s octagonal tomb, a accommodations for six nights. Lunch and the of Süleyman the Magnificent’s favorite son, theological school, and a hamam. Make your remainder of the afternoon are at leisure. This Şehzade Mehmed. After lunch, discover way to the Great Mosque, the first mosque built evening, gather for a festive welcome dinner. D the Grand Bazaar, where more than 4,000 after the conquest of Kayseri by the Seljuq shopkeepers sell carpets and handicrafts. Turks. Visit the Döner Kümbet tomb, built in 1276 Istanbul The evening is at leisure. B, L as the final resting place of imperial princess Tuesday, September 1 Şah Cihan Hatun. Also known as the Revolving Learn about Turkey’s captivating history Istanbul Tomb, it is covered in high-relief and arabesque during a morning lecture. Then, experience it decorations depicting animals and plants. Drive for yourself beginning in Istanbul’s Old City, Friday, September 4 Today, embark on an exciting exploration of along Devrent Valley to view the pink-hued rock including the Blue Mosque, with its stunning Istanbul’s vibrant modern and contemporary formations and unearthly geological shapes tiled interior; the Byzantine Hippodrome; and art world. First, tour Istanbul Modern, the city’s formed by centuries of erosion. Proceed to the the 6th-century Hagia Sophia. After lunch at leading modern art museum, and the nearby hotel for check-in followed by dinner. B, L, D a nearby restaurant, continue to the Museum Pera Museum. Lunch is at leisure with time to of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Before returning visit art galleries while walking through the Cappadocia to the hotel, visit the 6th-century Basilica Beyoğlu District–a neighborhood popular Monday, September 7 Cistern, the largest surviving Byzantine for its cafés and shops. In the afternoon, visit You may wish to rise early for an optional cistern in the city, and attend a private the home of Arter, a newly built center for sunrise hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia’s cocktail reception with a live performance contemporary art, followed by dinner. B, D scenic valleys. Following breakfast, visit the from a chamber music trio. During an evening Göreme Open-Air Museum, a remarkable, at leisure, you may wish to try one of Istanbul’s Istanbul UNESCO-listed complex of painted cave many fine restaurants. B, L, R Saturday, September 5 churches created by Orthodox monks between After a morning lecture, head to the historic 900 and 1200 A.D. Explore the Zelve Valley, Istanbul Fener-Balat Quarter, where an astonishing where you will find pillar-like shapes known as Wednesday, September 2 number of landmark churches, mosques, fairy chimneys and interesting animal-shaped Start the day with a visit to Topkapi Palace, and synagogues from Jewish, Armenian, and rocks and other odd forms. Journey to the residence of the Ottoman sultans for over Orthodox communities stand. On a perch village of Avanos, known for its earthenware 400 years and now a superb museum. In overlooking the neighborhood, discover pottery. Enjoy lunch before visiting the rock- the outer courtyard of Topkapi, view Hagia the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, which hewn citadel of Uçhisar, which stands at the Irene, one of the few Byzantine churches educated children of prominent Greek, highest point of Cappadocia and offers majestic that has not been converted into a mosque. Bulgarian, and Ottoman families until the early views of these awe-inspiring landscapes. Outside the Topkapi, pass by the monumental 20th century. Also visit the Bulgarian Orthodox Return to the hotel for dinner. B, L, D BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Cappadocia / Istanbul / winery. After a walk through the charming Tbilisi / Return Tbilisi, Georgia town of Sighnaghi, enclosed in well-preserved Saturday, September 12 Tuesday, September 8 fortifications, return to Tbilisi in the late Depart the hotel early this morning for the Transfer to Kayseri Airport and fly to afternoon for an evening at leisure. B, L flight home. B Istanbul, connecting to a flight to Georgia’s Tbilisi / Mtskheta & Gori or capital, Tbilisi, one of the most ancient cities This itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of The in the Caucasus. Lunch is at leisure. Upon Stepantsminda Metropolitan Museum of Art and Arrangements Abroad. Friday, September 11 For complete details, please carefully read the terms and arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in conditions at www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms. followed by dinner. B, D Today offers two different full-day excursions.

You may choose to visit Mtskheta, Georgia’s BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Tbilisi ancient capital, dedicated to St. Nino. Wednesday, September 9 Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Immerse yourself in Georgian culture and of Svetitskhoveli’s 11th-century Cathedral and Program Rate history with a morning lecture, followed 6th-century Jvari Monastery. Then, continue $10,999 per person, double rate by a walking tour of Tbilisi’s gorgeous Old to Gori and visit Joseph Stalin’s birthplace $13,699 single rate Town, which includes a synagogue, a 13th- and museum. Get a glimpse into Georgia’s Rate Includes century Georgian cathedral, and the Bridge ancient history by exploring the cave city — Twelve nights’ accommodations as per itinerary of Peace, which crosses the Kura River. Visit of Uplistsikhe. Alternatively, drive through Freedom Square and walk along its narrow the spectacular scenery of the Caucasus — Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, cobbled streets with houses notable for mountains on a full-day trip to the village of L=Lunch, R=Reception, D=Dinner); bottled water Stepantsminda. From here, view Holy Trinity and coffee/tea with all meals, house wine at colorful wooden carved balconies. Continue welcome and farewell dinners to Metekhi Church, and take a curator-led Church, built at an elevation of over 7,000 feet, tour of the sparkling treasures inside the and beautiful Mount Kazbek. Return to Tbilisi, — Internal economy-class flights: Istanbul/Kayseri and Kayseri/Istanbul/Tbilisi Georgian National Museum. For dinner, where we will celebrate our deeply enriching feast on homemade Georgian specialties journey during a farewell dinner. B, L, D — Airport/hotel/airport group transfers for all with a local family, followed by a traditional participants on suggested flights performance of folk songs. B, L, D — Escorted sightseeing by private motor coach; entrance fees for included visits Tbilisi / Alaverdi / Telavi / — Enrichment program of lectures and talks Sighnaghi — Taxes, service, and porterage charges; gratuities Thursday, September 10 to local guides and drivers Spend the day on a scenic tour of Kakheti, the wine region of Georgia. First visit 11th- Not included in rate century Alaverdi Cathedral, then continue International airfare; passport/visa fees; meals not specified; alcoholic beverages other than noted in to Telavi, this region’s major town, and the inclusions; personal items and expenses; airport Batonis-Tsikhe Fortress, a former royal transfers other than for those on suggested flights; palace that houses a museum. Sample excess baggage; trip insurance; any other items not Georgian wines during lunch at a local Holy Trinity Church, Stepantsminda, photo by Levan Gokadze specifically mentioned as included.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Treasures of Turkey & Georgia: August 30–September 12, 2020 Form of Payment Reservation Form  Check (payable to Arrangements Abroad)  Debit card  Credit card To secure your reservation, please call Arrangements Abroad at 844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638); or complete this form and return it with your deposit of $1,000 per person (of which $500 is non-refundable for administrative fees), to be paid by debit card, credit card, wire transfer, or Name on debit/credit card check payable to Arrangements Abroad. Mail to: Arrangements Abroad, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10018-3721.

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Fax Email Signature (required) Date Accommodations Hotel room preference  One bed  Two beds  Single I wish to share a room with Signature (required) Date For additional information, please call 844-TRVLMET (844-878-5638) or to opt out from receiving mail, email [email protected] B_20LNDIST0830_MET The Metropolitan East Meets West: PRSRT STD Museum of Art U.S. Postage PAID Treasures of 1000 Fifth Avenue San Ramon, CA Turkey & Georgia New York, NY 10028 Permit #79 August 30– September 12, 2020

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