SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATIONS TOUR
Day 1: ARRIVE Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
(D)
Day 2: Istanbul
After
breakfast, a full day visit of the city, including the Hagia
Sophia church, glory of the Byzantine Empire; the Blue Mosque famous
for its interior tiles from Nicea; Byzantine Hippodrome
where once horse and chariot races took place; the Church of St. Savior
in Chora, representing best examples of the
Byzantine mosaic art with scenes from the life of Blessed Virgin; Topkapi Palace with its magnificent
exhibitions of the treasury, silverware, costumes etc. Lunch
during visits and dinner in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 3: Istanbul / Bursa
After
breakfast depart for Nicea (Iznik) taking the Intercontinental
Suspension Bridge over the Bosphorus and a short ferry ride in the Sea of Marmara.
Home of two Ecumenical Councils, Nicea has several
Byzantine and Ottoman relics in the heart of ancient Bytinia.
Here you’ll see Hagia Sophia church
and the City Walls. Lunch in the restaurant and proceed to Bursa,
first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Grand Mosque, Green Mosque and Mausoleum.
Dinner and stay in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 4: Bursa / Pamukkale
Breakfast in the hotel and drive to Sardis, ancient capital of Lydia and one of the Seven Churches. There is a beautiful archaeological site where you’ll
see a church, restored Roman Baths, Synagogue and shops. After lunch proceed to
Alasehir and visit another Church of the Apocalypse, Philadelphia, where you’ll see the Church
of St John with some frescoes. Then continue to Pamukkale visiting Laodicea and its barely
excavated site. Dinner in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 5: Pamukkale / Izmir
After
breakfast visit Hierapolis where St. Philip was
martyred and proceed to Ephesus, ancient Roman capital of Asia Minor.
Here you’ll see the Library of Celsus,
largest theater in Anatolia where St.
Paul faced the Ephesians
supporting their goddess Artemis, Temple
of Hadrian, Roman Baths, Agoras etc. After
Lunch visit the House of Virgin Mary on Panaghia Kapulu Mountain where it is believed that she spent last years of her life.
Then visit the Basilica of St. John where he was buried after returning
from exile in Patmos and Justinian built a cathedral over his tomb in the sixth
century. Drive to Smyrna, modern day Izmir, for dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)
Day 6: Izmir / Assos
Breakfast
in the hotel and depart for Assos. Along the
way visit Tyatira (Akhisar)
where you’ll see foundations of a Christian church and Roman road. Then
proceed to Pergamon to visit the church
of St. John at the Red
Court, and the Acropolis
for its Hellenistic and Roman relics. After lunch drive
to Assos where St. Paul visited after Alexandria Troas on his
third journey. Dinner and stay in
the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 7: Assos / Istanbul
After
breakfast depart for Troy, place of the famous Trojan War, the city is dating back to
3,000 BC with 9 different layers of settlers. You can also see a replica of the
Trojan Horse. Take a ferry across Dardanelles
strait and then a pleasant drive to Istanbul.
Lunch en route. Dinner and Stay in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 8: DEPART Istanbul
Breakfast
and transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight. End of Services.
(B)
PLEASE NOTE: This tour is run in Group basis only,
minimum with 25 participants. Cost of the tour depends on the size of your
group. Please contact
us for pricing if you have a group.
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