Istanbul - Seven Churches of Asia Minor - Istanbul 4 Nights in 4-Star Hotels

Itinerary

Day 1: Pick Up from Hotel and Transfer to Istanbul airport for flight to Izmir

Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
Flight from Istanbul to Izmir
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Dokuz Eylül, 35410 Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
Arrival to Izmir airport and our representative will meet you and private transfer to your hotel in Izmir
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 star Hotel in Izmir

Day 2: Pergamon – Thyatira - Izmir (Breakfast, Dinner)

Stop At: Pergamon Antik Kenti, Bergama Turkey
Drive to Pergamum, It is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Here we explore the impressive Acropolis, the Asklepieion, see the Altar of Zeus which is mentioned as the, Throne of Satan, in the book of Revelation
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Tepe Mezari, Oren yeri, Akhisar Turkey
Then we continue our visit to Thyatira, now called Akhisar, another one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14]. It was a city famous for purple dyes. We visit the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. we enjoy a panoramic ride of Smyrna, one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. dinner and overnight.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 Star hotel in Izmir

Day 3: Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis ( Breakfast - Dinner )

Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkey
Today we depart early in the morning to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4], Sardis, presently Sart. This was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, portrayed as a dying church. We visit the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church. We will also visit the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue. We also see the last several meters of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis built by Cyrus the Great and the «golden» river Pactolus. Lunch en route.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Philadelphia Siesean Kilisesi, Soguksu Mahallesi, Ismet Pasa Cd. No: 114, Alasehir Turkey
Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and the only church not censured. There we see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick, with a bit of high arch and some 11th century frescoes.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli - Pamukkale, Denizli Turkey
Continue to visit to Laodicia. The city established in the C3 BCE by the Seleucid Antiochus II, the city was named after his wife Laodicea. Built on the Lycus Tributary of the Meander River, it was surnamed Laodicea on Lycus, to distinguish it from other similarly named cities. Laodicia is the last of the seven churches. As a crossroad of two important roads, this city had an important commercial and logistical position.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Hierapolis & Pamukkale, Pamukkale 20280 Turkey
We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, actually Pamukkale, the white «cotton fortress» where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and of Laodicea in 190 BC. In Hierapolis [Col. 4:13] we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 5 Star Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale

Day 4: Ephesus – Kusadasi (Breakfast - Dinner)

Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Drive to Ephesus visit to the ancient city of Ephesus including the Basilica of St. John. The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. This church also received an epistle from him. We tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue in this once great and important city, which was founded in the 10th century BC.

Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre. The Temple of Diana of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), Selcuk 35100 Turkey
The House of Virgin Mary is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles away from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council on 431 AD in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared there as a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed there
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: The Basilica of Saint John, Isa Bey Mahallesi, 2013. Sk. No:1, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
After House of Virgin Mary, drive to St. John’s Basilica, it is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: The Temple of Artemis, Selcuk Turkey
We will stop at Artemis Temple where used to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world as our last stop before drive back to Kusadasi town center and port. Drive back to Kusadasi
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a 4 Star hotel in Kusadasi

Day 5: Kusadasi - Izmir transfer and flight to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel in Istanbul

Stop At: Kusadasi Gazi Begendi Park, Turgut Ozal Blv., Kusadasi Turkey
Pick up from hotel in Kusadasi and private transfer to Izmir airport for flight to Istanbul
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Dokuz Eylül, 35410 Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
Arrival to Izmir airport for flight to Istanbul
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
Arrival to Istanbul and private transfer to your hotel. and the end of our services
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.