President Mary McAleese is rounding off her visit to Turkey with a number of engagements, including a business lunch and a meeting with an Orthodox church leader.
Mrs McAleese began her day with a visit to a home for the elderly in Istanbul run by the Sisters of the Poor and headed by Irish born Sister Philomena O'Reilly.
She chatted to elderly residents and nuns and met some Irish people living in Istanbul.
The President then embarked on a whistle stop tour of three of the city’s main Islamic sites, including the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace.
Later she is to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew of the Orthodox Church.
The business side of her itinerary was reflected in a lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland.
The Agency's Kevin Buckley said they hoped to grow the €400m in Irish trade in Turkey and a number of Irish businesses had travelled to attend the event.
Mrs McAleese returns to Ireland tomorrow.
