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DAY 1 (SAT)
ARRIVAL
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer (optional) to your hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 (SUN)
ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET
(GROUP WALKING TOUR)
8:10 – 8:45 Departure from your hotel. Today
we will visit the Saint Sophia (Haghia Sofia)
which was built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th
century A.D and stands over much older remains of a
church. See beautiful mosaics of biblical scenes and
the Byzantine emperors and empresses. We continue to
the Blue Mosque, which was built in the 17th
century and is the only imperial mosque with 6
minarets. We continue to the Hippodrome, a
stadium and meeting place in Byzantine times, the
Serpent Pillar from Delphi and the Egyptian
Obelisk, with the Fountain of Wilhelm.
Continue with the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
originally built as the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha in
1524 with fine examples of Islamic Calligraphy,
tiles and carpets. Then we will explore the
Topkapi Palace. It was the home of the Ottoman
sultans from the 15th-19th century A.D. (Harem
section is optional and due an extra entry fee).
Overnight
in Istanbul.
B.L.
*Please note that the tour of Istanbul is
done with a separate guide and that this is a
regular group tour of Istanbul covering the main
sights of interest and is not particularly biblical
oriented.
DAY 3 (MON)
ISTANBUL - IZMIR
Transfer to the airport for flight to Izmir. Upon
arrival you will be met with a sign that has your
name and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Izmir.
B. D.
*It is possible to take an optional group or
private tour today before departing for Izmir.
DAY 4 (TUE)
IZMIR – PERGAMON – THYATIRA – IZMIR
Pick up from the hotel after breakfast and driver to
Pergamon. It is one of the sites of the Seven
Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Here we explore
the impressive Acropolis, the steep theater, the
Aesclepion, which was a famous medical centre of
classical times. See the Altar of Zeus which is
mentioned as the «Throne of Satan» in the book of
Revelation, the Temple of Trajan and the Library
which is said to have over 200,000 volumes. We will
also visit the Red Basilica (St. John's
Church) and continue our visit to Thyatira,
now called Akhisar, another one of the Seven
Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14].
It was a city famous for purple dyes. We visit the
remains of a basilica and some architectural
fragments from the Roman period. We return to Izmir
and enjoy a panoramic view of Smyrna, the third
largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the
Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. We ascend to
Mount Pagus where we visit the Citadel of
Lysimachos, commander of Alexander the Great,
erected in the 4th century BC. We will also see the
Clock Tower. Return to the hotel for dinner and
overnight in Izmir.
B.D.
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DAY 5 (WED)
IZMIR – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA - LAODICEA –
HIERAPOLIS - PAMUKKALE |
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We depart early in the morning to one of the
most picturesque areas of any of the Seven
Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4], Sardis,
now known as “Sart”. This was the capital of the
ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC. We
visit the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple
of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church. We |
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will also visit some ancient Lydian houses, and
the restored gymnasium and Synagogue. We also
see the last several meters of the royal Persian
Road from Susa to Sardis built by Cyrus the
Great and the «golden» river Pactolos. We
continue our journey after lunch to
Philadelphia, which is now known as “Alasehir”.
Here was another church of the Seven Churches of
Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not
censured. There we see the remains of a
Byzantine basilica built of brick, with a bit of
high arch and some 11th century frescoes. We
drive to the ancient thermal spa center of
Hierapolis, now called “Pamukkale” which
means «cotton fortress» because of the calcium
travertines where hot mineral water cascades
over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and
stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known
to the founders of Hierapolis and of Laodicea in
190 BC. In Hierapolis [Col. 4:13] we visit the
Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he
was martyred during the persecutions ordered by
Domitian. Proceed to Laodicea, yet
another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor
[Rev. 1:11; 3:14; Col. 2:1; 4:13-16]. We see the
ancient theater, the remains of basilica and
ancient stone water pipes, the Gate of Domitian,
the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD Theater,
the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the
Plutonium and the Necropolis. Overnight in
Pamukkale Thermal Hotel.
B.D. |
DAY 6 (THU)
PAMUKKALE - EPHESUS - KUSADASI
We depart from Pamukkale in the morning and drive to
Ephesus to visit to the ancient city. The
Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived
here for three years. This church also received an
epistle from him. We tour the spectacular ruins
where excavations still continue in this once great
and important city, which was founded in the 10th
century BC. Walk along marble streets lined with
wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of
Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of
Hadrian and the Theatre. The Temple of Diana of
the Ephesians, one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world, was built in this city. We visit the
Basilica of St. John and the Ephesus
Archaeological Museum and finally the House
of Virgin Mary, then drive to Kusadasi and
overnight.
B.D.
DAY 7 (FRI)
KUSADASI - IZMIR - ISTANBUL
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to Izmir
Airport. Upon arrival in Istanbul transfer to your
hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
B.
DAY 8 (SAT)
DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport for departure.
(B)
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PRICE
PER PERSON IN DBL/TRIPLE: 850 EUROS (4* AND
FIRST CLASS HOTELS)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: 275 EUROS |
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INCLUDED:
Airport transfers (Valid for Istanbul Ataturk
Airport and Izmir Airport only) Accommodation/
Meals as mentioned only by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch,
D=Dinner/ English speaking professional guides,
A/C transportation/ entry fees to sights as
mentioned, fuel and road tolls.
NOT INCLUDED: Drinks,
tips to guide and driver, international or
domestic flights, or any thing not specifically
mentioned
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