DAY 1.Istanbul
Arrival
Arrival at Istanbul
Ataturk Airport. Meet
and transfer to your
hotel. Dinner and
overnight. ( Dinner)
DAY 2.Istanbul
After breakfast,
we drive to the 'Old
City' where we will
visit the Hippodrome,
the Blue Mosque,famous
for its delicate blue
ceramic tiles and Saint
Sophia. This church -
turned mosque - turned
museum takes the breath
away with the sheer
architectural size of
its interior and
magnificent dome.
After lunch we will
visit the spectacular
Topkapi Palace. It was
the seat of government
for
the Ottoman Empire for
many centuries
(1453-1852) and we will
see the extravagant
Treasury and the
priceless Chinese
porcelain
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 3. Istanbul
/ Canakkale
After an early breakfast, we will began our scenic drive
down to Gallipoli,
historically famous for
being the site of many
battles during WW1.
Following a lunch break,
we will cross the second
strategic waterway, the
Dardanelles and land
Asia and proceed to Troy.
Referred to in Homer’s
“Iliad” and “Odyssey”,
Troy has in fact nine
cities superimposed one
upon another. Troy VI
pertains to the famous
Trojan War of Homer
where the legendary
heroes included
Agamemnon, Archilles,
Ulysses and Nestor on
the Greek side and Priam.
Hector and Paris on the
Trojan side.
We will check-in our
hotel in Canakkale for
dinner and overnight.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 4.
Canakkale / Pergamum /
Izmir
After breakfast drive to Izmir. This morning we will stop by
hauntingly beautiful
Pergamum. Among the
impressive structures of
this city, dating from
399 B.C., we will see
the Altar of Zeus,
Temple of Dionysus and
the 200,000 volume
library which was
surpassed only by that
found in Alexandria at
the time. The
Asclepieum of Pergamon
was a famous health
center where methods of
treatment included blood
transfusions, music
therapy and meditation.
On our way to Izmir, we
will stop by Thyteria to
see the remains of the
church. This was one of
the principle towns
where Christianity
spread quickly. Dinner
and overnight in Izmir. ( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 5.
Izmir / Ephesus /
Pamukkale
On our way to Pamukkale, we will stop by the famous city of
Ephesus. Our tour will
begin with the Basilica
of St. John "the
Evangelist" who came
here with the Virgin
Mary and wrote his
Gospel in Ephesus. The
Temple of Artemis,
considered as on the
Seven Wonders of the
World, was located here.
Ephesus as you will see,
is in very good state of
preservation and the
overall existing view of
this ancient city will
make it evident that she
was a wealthy cultural
and commercial center in
the past. St. Paul's
preachings in the area
resulted with the uproar
of the Guild of
Silversmiths and
eventually the whole
population of Ephesus.
Highlights include the
Library of Celcius, the
Temple of Hadrian, the
Fountain of Trajan, the
Brothel and the Theater.
We will also stop by the
House of Virgin Mary
closeby, where she is
reputed to have spent
her last years and died.
You will be able to
collect some holly water
from the Sacred Spring.
Dinner and overnight in
Pamukkale.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY
6.Pamukkale
/ Antalya
After breakfast we will visit Hierapolis which was founded
by Pergamon king
Telephos and named after
his wife Hiera. Most
likely, the very large
Jewish element in this
city was an important
factor in the rapid
expansion of
Christianity. During the
Byzantine period the
city became the seat of
diocese with a large
Christian Church
dedicated to St. Philip,
martyred here in 80 A.D.
Highlights include the
Roman Baths, the Temple
of Apollo and the
Theater. Continue to
Laodicea Ad Lycum where
the remains are found on
a flat-topped hill.
Christianity came to the
area during the time of
St. Paul, brought by
Epaphras of Colossae.
Laodicea became the seat
of Bishopric and hosted
an
important Ecumenical
Council in the fourth
century A.D., it was
named in the Revelations
as one of the Seven
Churches of the
Apocalypse. Highlights
will be the Water Tower,
Stadium and the Council
Chamber. Lunch will be
by the side of Salda
Lake, Turkey’s Deepest
Lake. After we continue
a long and scenic
journey towards the
sparkling turquoise
coast. Dinner and
overnight in Antalya.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY
7.Antalya
(Perge - Aspendos -
Cruise)
After breakfast drive to ruins of Perge in to the northeast
of Antalya. This is
where St. Paul began
preaching after arriving
from Cyprus. Highlights
are, the Gymnasium, the
Bath, the Agora, the
Theater, the Stadium and
the Hellenistic Gate.
Another one of the
Pamphilian cities is
Aspendus.The Theater is
the best preserved in
the world with its
incredible acoustics.
After lunch we board our
private boat for a
relaxing cruise along
the Antalya Coast.
Overnight in Antalya.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 8.
Antalya / Konya /
Cappadocia
Early morning we will drive to Psidian Antioch (Yalvac)
where St.Paul opened
Christianity to the
world. Yalvaç's history
goes back to 280 B.C.
During St. Paul's time
the population was a
mixture of Jews, Romans
and Greeks. Very little
is left of Psidian
Antioch today. There is
the propylaea of the
acropolis with a number
of carved stones and the
remains of a Byzantine
church. Then continue to
Konya or ancient Ìconium
which became an
important Christian city
following St. Paul's
preachings. A Phyrigia
legend says that Konya
was the first city to be
founded after the flood.
St.Paul and Barnabas
came here in 47 A.D. and
their preaching was
accompanied by many
miracles. St. Paul made
two more stops here on
his second and third
journeys. Today's Konya
is quite new but the
center of the city is
very old. Drive to
Cappadocia and overnight.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 9.
Cappadocia
Today we visit the incredible Underground City of Kaymakli
where early Christians
lived secretly in order
to survive and keep
their faith. Then
picture steps will be
given at the Valley of
the Birds and at the
foot of the Uchisar
Castle. Then proceed to
the Goreme Valley to
visit the rock carved
churches hollowed out of
volcanic ash. Lunch will
be at Avanos Village
followed by the famous
local pottery and carpet
shows allowing ample
time for shopping in the
afternoon. Also time
will be allocated for
the local souvenir
shopping before
returning to the hotel
for dinner. In the
evening Belly Dance and
Folkloric show at Cave
Restaurant. Overnight.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 10.Cappadocia
/ Adana / Antakya
After breakfast drive to Antakya via Tarsus, the birth place
of St. Paul. During
St. Paul's time
Tarsus was a
university city
surpassing Athens
and Alexandria.
Cicero was a
governor here in 51-
50 BC. And the
romantic meeting
between Cleopatra
and Mark Anthony
took place in
Tarsus.
Highlights here will
be St. Paul's well,
tomb of Sardanapulus
and Cleopatra's Gate.
Check-in to the
hotel for dinner and
overnight in
Antakya.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 11.
Antakya / Adana /
Istanbul
Today we journey East to Antioch-on-the- Orontes, Daphne and
Seleucia Pieria.
Antioch is thought
to have been founded
in 300 BC. Among all
the cities in the
world of the first
century AD. Antioch
offered the most
ferric ground for
new ideas,
philosophies and
religions. First to
preach here was
St.Peter followed by
St. Paul and
Barnabas whose
extensive efforts
proved to be very
fruitful for
Christianity.
Incidentally, the
word Christians was
first coined in
Antioch. The strong
and wealthy
community of Antioch
contributed
financially to the
Christian community
of Jerusalem.
Highlights include
the museum which
houses a superb
collection of
mosaics from Antioch,
Daphne and Seleucia
Pieria, St. Peter's
Grotto, the cave
church came to be
known as the meeting
place of the early
Christians.
According to the
legend, ancient
Daphne was the
sacred grove where
Apollo tried to rape
a nymph of the same
name whom Eros
struck with an arrow
thus making her
incapable of loving
neither a god nor a
mortal. Apart from
being dedicated to
Apollo, Daphne was
also a place of
carnal pleasures and
any soldier caught
in the area was
dismissed from
service. The next
site we will visit
today is Seleucia
Pieria which was the
port city of Antioch
in ancient days. The
most interesting
monument here is the
Tunnel of Titus
which is a
tremendous canal dug
for the purpose of
diverting waters of
Orontes river.
Another highlight
here will be the
rock tombs with
their impressive
facades pertaining
to the Hellenistic
period. Drive to
Adana Airport for
flight to Istanbul. Dinner
and overnight.
( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
)
DAY 12.Istanbul
Departure
Free until transfer time.
Transfer to Istanbul
Ataturk Airport
International Lines
for flight to home.
( Breakfast )
>Price
Includes:
Air-conditioned coach, English speaking guide,
museum entrance fees,
breakfast, lunch and dinners, parking. All prices are per
person
>Price
Does Not Include:
Personel expenditure
(plane, laundry etc.),
tips to the guide &
driver, drinks,
all extras.
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