Did you know that Philadelphia is in Turkey?

7 Days / 6 Nights İstanbul (3) - İzmir (1) - Pamukkale (1) - İstanbul (1)

Arrivals Friday

Tour Details:

Friday: ISTANBUL

Arrival in Istanbul, the city that bridges two continents, “Europe” and “Asia”. You will be met at the airport, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Briefing and welcome cocktail. Overnight in Istanbul (Cocktail).

Saturday: ISTANBUL

Morning visit to the Kariye Museum, the old church of St. Saviour in Chora treasuring the marvelous mosaics and frescoes which represent scenes drawn from, the cycle of the life of the Virgin and of Christ. Then drive to the Museum of St. Sophia (the Church of Divine Wisdom, built by Justinian) a fantastic church. In the words of the court historian of 6th century “Had not been since Adam and never would be again”. Later visit the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Blue Mosque, famous for its magnificent interior with blue tiles and 6 minarets. Continue to Topkapi Palace Museum to enjoy the dazzling displays of the Treasures of Ottoman Sultans, and the porcelain collection, which is unique in the world. Lunch at the Konyali Restaurant of the Palace. After lunch you will visit the famous Grand Bazaar where there are shopping opportunities for carpets, leather goods, copper goods and jewelry. Overnight in Istanbul (Breakfast & Lunch) (Dinner if required).

Sunday: ISTANBUL

Morning visit to the Orthodox Patriarchate in Fener on the Golden Horn followed by a visit to the Catholic Church St. Antoine on the main walking street. Lunch on the main street on your own. Afternoon drive to the Dolmabahce Palace right on the Bosphorus, the masterpiece of the 19th Century Palaces in the Renaissance Style. Later a cruise on the Bosphorus by private boat enjoying the old wooden villas, marble palaces, ancient fortresses, zigzagging between the coasts of two continents, Asia and Europe. Disembark at Ortakoy, “Syntheses of three religions” where you will have the opportunity to see a church, a mosque and a synagogue, all three very close to each other. Dinner in Ortakoy, a typical and interesting section of the city (Breakfast & Dinner) (Lunch if required).

Monday: ISTANBUL - IZMIR (Smyrna)

Transfer to the Ataturk Airport for a morning flight to Izmir. This is the beginning of the visits to Seven Churches which hold a unique place in the biblical and historical sites of Asia Minor. First drive north to Akhisar (Thyatira) mentioned in the book of Revelation by St. John, see the ruins of the early Christian basilica, a colonnaded road and a large church. Then continue to the Hellenistic city of Pergamon its majestic acropolis was built on a commanding hill above the modern city of Bergama. After lunch visit the grand theater, this has almost perfect acoustics, the Red basilica and the ancient medical center, the Asclepion. Then visit the majestic acropolis. Overnight in Izmir (Breakfast & Lunch) (Dinner if required).

Tuesday: IZMIR (Smyrna) - SARDIS - PAMUKKALE (Hierapolis) (168 miles - 269 km.)

In Izmir visit the Church of St. Polycarp, the Angelican church and Mt. Pagos. Then drive to Sardis, one of the most picturesque area of any of the churches. Visit the Temple of Artemis, a small Byzantine church. Continue to Alasehir ancient (Philadelphia) the city of brotherly love, another of the cities of Seven Churches. Afternoon drive to Hierapolis. Its hot thermal springs of calcium spill over the plateau’s edge creating dazzling white formations called Cotton Castles. Visit the ruins of Hierapolis which also was the home of Papias and Epicitus, early Christian writers and Philip the Evangelist. The Martyrium of St. Philip, an octagonal chamber has recently been discovered. Afternoon drive through beautiful country side to Laodicea, which in St. Paul’s days became a rich city being on the cross roads of travel between Sardis and Perge, the Euphrates and Ephesus. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale (Breakfast & Dinner) (Lunch if required).

Wednesday: PAMUKKALE - EPHESUS - ISTANBUL (121 miles - 193 km.)

Morning departure to Ephesus the city dedicated to Artemis, the best preserved ancient city of Asia Minor with its majestic theater, marble road, Temple of Artemis, the Church of the Virgin Mary or the Double Church, the library of Celsius, the stadium, the lecture hall Tyrannus where St. Paul held daily discussions (Acts 19.9). For two years St. Paul taught here from eleven to four during the hottest hours of the day when the hall was empty. Then visit the Church of St. John and his Tomb in Selcuk before driving to the home of the Virgin Mary, who was brought to Ephesus by John, the beloved disciple of Jesus. The home of Virgin Mary on a hill top, where she lived out her days is now visited by over a hundred thousand pilgrims each year. The pilgrims drink the water of the sacred spring, meditate and pray for health at this ancient spot of worship. Both Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979 have celebrated mass here. Drive to the Izmir airport for your flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul (Breakfast & Lunch) (Dinner if required).

Thursday: ISTANBUL

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight via Istanbul (Breakfast).

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