1. Day: Flight to ISTANBUL
Transfer to hotel. 2. Day: ISTANBUL
Full day city tour visiting the most
important monuments of Istanbul. We will see
the Chora Monastery Church decorated with
its beautiful Byzantine mosaics, the
Hippodrome, an arena for Gladiator fights
and horse carriage races, the Blue Mosque,
one of the most beautiful mosques of the
Islamic world, Santa Sofia, one of the most
important church monuments in the world,
Topkapi Palace, a government residence for
400 years, and a place where we can admire
the treasures of the Sultans, and finally to
Saint Irene's, the first church of the city
and one of the council churches. These take
part of the many highlights of Istanbul
.3. Day: ISTANBUL / BURSA
We will cross the gulf of Izmit with a ferry
boat to Yalova and continue to Iznik, the
antique Nicea. In Niecea's Santa Sofia the
first and seventh to Bursa, the first
capitol of the Ottoman Empire, and we will
visit it's monuments.
4. Day: BURSA / AYVALIK
Trip to Troy, the mythological and
historical center of the western world. We
will visit the museum and the ruins of Troy
excavated by the German archeologist
Schliemann. Then a trip to Assos where Saint
Paul studied and worked. Continuation to Ayvalik.
5. Day: AYVALIK / IZMIR
Trip to Pergamum and a visit to the
Acropolis, the Red Hall and the Asclepium of
this significant ancient town. Then a trip
through the countryside to Theatyra and on
to Izmir, the ancient Smyrna. On this day we
see three Churches of the Apocalypse.
6. Day: IZMIR / PAMUKKALE
Passing through Sardes, an important and
ancient town, we continue to Philadelphia
and Laodicea. On the same day we see three
other historical communities. Then we go to
Pamukkale and visit the incredible white
chalk terraces and the ancient Hierapolis.
7. Day: PAMUKKALE / KUSADASI
First we go to Tavas, a small sweet town.
There we will visit a carpet making school
frequented by the girls of the region and
continue to Selcuk where we will visit the
Saint John Basilica, a council church,
and the home of Mother Mary where she died.
Then we will proceed to the ruins of Ephesus,
one of the most beautiful and important excavations.
8. Day: Flight back from KUSADASI
Transfer to the airport.
