Itinerary:
Day 1 - Exploring Pergamum and Thyateria - (L/D)
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the domestic airport for a 1-hour flight down to Izmir.
*Pergamum is host to one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and it was one of the largest cities in the ancient world. as caravan routes travelled through here. At the same time, large numbers of early Christians settled here.
* Thyateria is another one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
After Thyateria, we will be on our way to Kusadasi, arriving in the evening, and will check into our hotel.
Overnight in Kusadasi
Day 2 - Kusadasi - (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we will take you on a full-day to some of Turkey's most famous sites.
Sites you'll see today:
* Ephesus is the best-preserved classical cities from ancient times, and was inhabited by Greeks, Macedonians, Romans and Turks. St. Paul lived here circa 60 AD, when it was at its most populated at 250,000. During your visit, you’ll walk its stony boulevards, stand in the grand theatre, marvel at the beauty of the Celsus Library, the agora, as well as the baths, giving you the unique chance to get up-close-and-personal with history by literally being able to walk into it.
*The House of The Virgin Mary is where it is believed St. Mary came to live with St. John in the last years of her life.
*The Church of St. John was erected by Emperor Justinian to commemorate St. John, whose tomb is within the church's walls. It was here that St. John actually wrote his gospel and other letters here.
Overnight in Kusadasi
Day 3 - Pamukkale, Laodicea and Colossae - (B/L/D)
After breakfast we will depart Kusadasi and visit Laodicea, Colossae, the natural wonder of Pamukkale and Hierapolis.
* Pamukkale ("cotton castle" in Turkish) is the result of limestone formations created over thousands of years. Warm, calcium-rich mineral water from nearby thermal hot springs flowed over these cliffs and, as these waters cooled, they deposited the calcium that we see today.
* Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded as an ancient healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire. Over time, the city hosted large numbers of both Jewish and Christian residents.
*Laodicea is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and was written about extensively by St. John.
*Colossae was the church that St. Paul wrote about in the Bible's Book of Colossians. There are ongoing excavations taking place here, but you'll be able to see a very early Christian church and other remnants of this once heavily-populated city.
Overnight in Pamukkale
Day 4 - Philadelphia, Sardis and Smyrna - (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we will depart Pamukkale for Izmir and stop to see these sites on the way:
*Philadelphia is another one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and was once called 'Little Athens" during the Roman period. Today, we will see remnants of the surrounding fortification wall that once encircled the city, as well as the Church of St. John.
*Sardis is where historians believe coinage was actually invented. It was a rich Lydian city known for its gold.
*Smyrna, known today as Izmir, was once a place where Christians and Jews outnumbered Muslims. Thousands of foreign diplomats, traders, merchants and sailors were based here.
Overnight in Izmir
Day 5 - Izmir to Istanbul - (B)
After breakfast, we will provide a transfer to Izmir airport and put you on a 1-hour flight back to Istanbul.
Arriving in Istanbul will be the end of this program.
If you have extended your visit with an additional trip, we will be confirming this with you today.
Prices are starting from 585 Euros per person in a double, contact us to get a price quote for your dates
Includes
* All transfers in comfortable vehicles
* All hotels (superior class and 4-star hotels)
* All meals mentioned in the itinerary
* Professional, English-speaking tour guide
* Entrance fees to ancient sites
* One-way domestic flight tickets
* All taxes and service charges
Excludes
* International flight tickets
* Drinks with meals
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