Upon arrival in Istanbul Airport you will have to
purchase your entry visa, then you are assisted with your baggage
and transferred to the hotel. Meet the other members of the group
at a welcome dinner.
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| DAY
2 ISTANBUL |
First you will visit the Blue Mosque, the 17th
century Ottoman Mosque famous for its magnificent interior
decorated with blue tiles, then to the Hippodrome, where chariot
races took place during the Roman Times - continue to the
Byzantine St. Sophia and marvel at this masterpiece of Byzantine
architecture. After lunch continue to the Topkapi Palace with its
dazzling display of the treasures of the Ottoman sultans. The
day's final stop is the Grand Bazaar where you can bargain in your
choice of over 4,000 shops.
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| DAY
3 ISTANBUL / ANKARA |
Enjoy a morning cruise on the Bosphorus, the winding
strait that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea
with the Marmara Sea. Enjoy the sight of old wooden mansions,
Ottoman Palaces and ancient fortresses. After lunch in a fish
restaurant on the European side cross over the Bosphorus bridge
and arrive in Asia. Visit the Camlica Hill where you can admire
the magnificent panorama of Istanbul. Drive to the Beylerbeyi,
which was used as a summer palace of the Sultans.
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| DAY
4 TROY / CANAKKALE |
After breakfast depart for legendary Troy, made
famous by Homer in the Iliad. Visit the nine cities built on top
of each other and the enormous reconstruction of the famous Wooden
Horse. Continue to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.
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| DAY
5 PERGAMON / THYATIRA / IZMIR |
Diving south through the rich olive fields along the
Aegean coast to Bergama, the ancient Pergamum, impressive site of
an ancient kingdom, see the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena and
the famous library, before viewing the ruins of Asklepion - in
which the largest building was later on used as a church dedicated
to St. John the Apostle. After lunch continue to Thyatira, site of
one the seven churches. Visit the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, a
colonnaded road, and ruins of a large church. Continue to Izmir
for dinner and overnight.
| DAY
6 SARDIS / PHILADELPHI / IZMIR |
Sardis - For the first time in history, King Croesus
of Sardis minted pure gold and silver coins, which were
guaranteed by the state. Visit the temple, the Byzantine
Church, the Roman-era synagogue and the gymnasium. After
lunch continue to Philadelphia, which with Smyrna, were
the only two churches among the Seven, that did not
receive St. John the Baptist's disapproval. Visit the
Byzantine basilica with some outstanding 11-th. Century
frescoes. Return to
Izmır for dinner and overnight.
| DAY
7 EPHESUS / KUSADASI |
Worship at the Chapel of the Virgin
Mary. After breakfast visit the ancient agora of
Izmir, where one of the Seven Churches, the
church of Polycarp was located. Continue to
Ephesus, one of the world's finest
archaeological sights. Visit the Arcadian Way,
the splendid facade of the Library of Celsus,
the Amphitheater where St. Paul preached to the
Ephesians that "gods made by human hands
are not gods at all". Visit the church of
the Virgin Mary where the Third Ecumenical
Council was held in 431 AD. After lunch visit
the Basilica of St. John and then the House of
the Virgin Mary spectacularly situated above the
ruins. One tradition maintains that St. John
brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus, and that she
spent the rest of her life in the house on the
hilltop. The home is now visited by thousands of
pilgrims each year, and Pope Paul VI and Pope
John Paul II both celebrated mass here. Dinner
and overnight in Kusadasi.
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| DAY
8 APHRODISIAS / PAMUKKALE |
Visit the city of Aphrodite, with its near perfect
stadium, theater and temple. After lunch
continue to Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) - an apt
description of the natural phenomenon of
fantastic white limestone terraces. Visit the
ruins of the ancient city and the necropolis,
and the great baths of Hierapolis. Dinner and
overnight in Pamukkale.
| DAY
9 KONYA / CAPPADOCIA |
Early morning departure to Cappadocia via Konya. St.
Paul and St. Barnabas both preached in Konya, to day the city is
known for its Seljuk mosques and monuments, and the monastery of the
great mystic Mevlana, head of the Whirling Dervishes. After lunch
continue to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.
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| DAY
10 CAPPADOCIA |
Your full day tour of Cappadocia begins with a visit
to the natural citadel of Uchisar, the GoremeValley - an open-air
museum with its cave-churches hewn out of rock. Visit the monastic
valley of Zelve - the Valley of Fairy Chimneys and the caves of the
ancient village of Avanos. After lunch visit Kaymakli - an
underground city carved in the soft volcanic rock by early
Christians. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
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| DAY
11 CAPPADOCIA / ANKARA / ISTANBUL |
Depart for Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey.
After lunch visit the world-famous Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
filled with the priceless collection of the pre-historic era. Then
drive to the Mausoleum of Ataturk Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of
the Turkish Republic. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for
the short flight to Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the
hotel for a farewell dinner and overnight.
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| DAY
12 CAPPADOCIA / ANKARA / ISTANBUL |
Transfer to the airport. Take off for
home.
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INCLUDED
:
|
|
11
Nights hotel accommodation
Meals as indicated in the program
Sightseeing and entrances to museums & sites as
indicated in the itinerary
Transportation by A/C vehicles & professional tour guide
Portage at hotels & Service charges
|
|
NOT
INCLUDED :
|
|
Flight
tickets
Drinks & All personal expenses
|
|
|
|
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