DAY 1- ISTANBUL ARRIVAL
Upon your arrival at the Istanbul Airport and as you exit baggage claim, you will be met by a True Blue Tour representative for transfer to your hotel. If your arrival time allows, you will pass by our office on the way to your hotel for introductions, tea and a bit of orientation about your tour. The remainder of the day will be free for you to pass at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2- BEST OF ISTANBUL TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Hagia Sophia, Underground Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Bosphorus Cruise, Cable Car to Pierre Loti Hill Cafe, Rustem Pasa Mosque
After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up at around 09:00 for your full day guided tour of Istanbul's main attractions.
Underground Cistern: Built by Justinian after 532, the Basilica Cistern stored water for the Great Palace and nearby buildings. Lost to memory, it was rediscovered in the mid sixteenth century by Petrus Gyllius, who had been sent to Constantinople by the French King Francis I in search of Byzantine monuments and manuscripts. Gyllius, who noticed that the local people were lowering buckets through holes in the floors of their houses to retrieve water, found an entrance and thus put this mysterious subterranean architectural surprise back on the map. You will marvel at the almost 10,000 square meters of space supported by 336 marble columns each nine meters in height.
Sultanahmet Mosque/Blue Mosque: This mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616 and is located in the district of old istanbul that is named after this Ottoman Sultan. It is distinguished by its six slender minarets. The central dome is 43 m in height and 33.4 m in diameter and there are 260 stained glass windows throughout the mosque. Due to the intricately decorated blue, green and red tiles of its interior it has long been referred to as theBlue Mosque. These tiles, produced and painted by hand in Iznik (ancient Nicaea), are an attraction in and of themselves. The Quranic inscriptions that you will see throughout the mosque were made by Seyyid Kasım Gubari, one of the most famous calligraphers of his time.
Roman Hippodrome and Monuments: The ancient Hippodrome was the center of Byzantine social life and the scene of fiercely competitive chariot races. It was located in the square adjacent to the Byzantine imperial palace, the site of which is now the Blue Mosque, and is still the site of ancient relics from its glory days. These relics are the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Remains of the curved end of the Hippodrome wall can be seen on the southwest side of the three monuments.
Hagia Sophia Museum: The Hagia Sophia that stands today was the primary church of Byzantine Constantinople and was built upon the site of two earlier churches that had been destroyed. Emperor Justinian I (527-565) commissioned the project and had materials brought in from all around his empire for the massive church’s construction. The Hagia Sophia was the most important church of the Christian East. Structurally, it was the first of its design and boasted the largest dome that had yet been engineered which provided a voluminous and well illuminated interior that continues to be impressive in its sheer scale. After Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque and was used as such throughout the Ottoman period. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the modern Turkish Republic’s most revered founding father and its first Prime Minister, initiated the process to have the Hagia Sophia transformed into a museum which opened for visitors in February 1935.
Luncheon service will be enjoyed in a local restaurant.
Bosphorus Cruise: We will cruise on the Bosphorus to allow you the prime perspective from which to view the fine palaces, pavilions, Ottoman houses and seaside neighborhoods along the shores of this famous and historic waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Maramara Sea. You will be struck by the volume and contrast of activity upon the water as fishermen in small wooden boats drop their lines in what seems to be the way of commuter ferry boats that dodge giant cargo ships and tankers as they shuttle back and forth between Asia and Europe.
Rumeli Fortress (From the sea): The largest fortification for the protection of Istanbul was built by Sultan Mehmet II in 1451 before his conquest of the city. This garrison is well preserved and its towers and walls can be seen clearly as our boat passes by.
Cable Car to Pierre Loti: Enjoy the beautiful view from the cable car as you climb the hill to the cafe named for the famous French writer and naval officer, Louis Marie Julien Viaud a.k.a. Pierre Loti (1850 -1923), who wrote fiction based on his experiences in Istanbul .
Rustem Pasha Mosque: This majestic and surprising little mosque was designed by the most famous of Ottoman architects, Mimar Sinan, for the Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha who had married Princess Mihrimah, one of the daughters of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Its construction took place from 1561 to 1563. The mosque is famous for its exquisite Iznik tiles that are set in beautiful floral and geometric arrangements and which cover not only the facade of the porch but also the mihrab, minbar, walls, and columns of the interior.
At the conclusion of the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel. Please note that the order in which sites are visited may vary. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)
Ephesus, House of Mother Mary, Temple of Artemis, Isa Bey Mosque, Selcuk Archaeological Museum
After an early breakfast and check out from your hotel, you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival in Izmir, you will be met at the airport and transferred to Selcuk where you will join a small group for your full day tour of Ephesus and the surrounding sites.
Tour extensively the ancient city of Ephesus. Very probably the largest archeological site in Turkey, it rises on the north slope of Mount Pion extending southward to the slope of Mount Koressos. First founded as a colony of Athens some 1000 years before Christ, it was rebuilt and fortified with city walls in the late part of the 4th century BC by Lysimachus, who had been left in charge of the city by Alexander the Great after his visit there in 334 BC. After Alexandria and Antiochia, during the Roman period, it was designated as the capital of Asia Minor. The apostle, Paul, came to Ephesus in the 1st century and it is believed to be the place from where he wrote his letter known as 1 Corinthians in the Holy Bible. Ephesus is also one of the seven churches, or communities of Christians, referred to in Revelations (Revelations 2:1-7). Explore the extensive site of this white marble ancient city and marvel at its spectacular monuments, such as the Library of Celsus, the Agora, the Odeon, the Trajan Fountain, the Domitianus Temple, the theater and the roman latrines, etc.
You will also visit the House of Mother Mary, located on the top of Bulbul Dag (the Mount of the Nightingale), seven kilometers south of the ancient city of Ephesus. Here the Blessed Virgin is said to have lived her last years on earth having been brought to the area under the care of St John, who also lived and preached here. It was reconstructed on the foundations unearthed in 1891 by Lazarist Fathers following the detailed description given to them by an infirmed German woman who claimed to have been shown this neighborhood in visions that she had of the Virgin Mother. Soon after, this place began to attract interest and is visited today by pilgrims from all over the world. Pope John XXIII visited this shrine many times during his stay as the Apostolic Delegate in Turkey while Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II came here as pilgrims in 1967 and 1979 respectively.
The tour will make a stop to see what remains of the Temple of Artemis. This famous temple is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and is also known as Artemission. It was first built in the lonian style during 560-550 BC by the Lydian King, Croesus. After being burned down in 356 BC, it was rebuilt on the same foundations, its height extended by 3 meters. This temple, which is also famous for its marble statues, is 55x115 meters in dimension and was the largest of all the ancient temples. It was discovered during excavations that were undertaken by the British Museum, in 1869-1874 under the supervision of J.T. Wood and in 1904-1905 under David G. Hogart. Many of the ruins were taken to the museum in England.
Isa Bey Mosque will be on the tour's itinerary. It is one of the most important architectural works of the Turkish Aydin Emirate, who ruled in western Anatolia from 1308 until 1426. This mosque was conceived and constructed in 1374 by Aydinoglu Isa Bey (1360-1390) in his administrative capital of Selcuk, near Ephesus. It is the second example of twin minaret mosques in Anatolia from the period of pre-Ottoman principalities and is larger than most of the mosques built during the same time period. Its architect was Ali bin Mushimish, from Damascus. Repairs were made in 1934 and the mosque was fully restored later in the second half of twentieth century.
The tour will finally visit the Selcuk Archaeological Museum, which houses some important artifacts from around the region including a famous statue of Artemis and an exquisite marble statue of a boy riding a dolphin.
After the tour, you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L)
After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up for departure to the Greco-Roman City of Pergamon.
Artifacts have been found at the Pergamon archaeological site that date back to the time of the Hittites. There were early Greek settlements and later Persian domination; though, the city apparently did not blossom until the Hellenistic period. Built upon a steep hilltop 1000 feet above the plains below where the rivers Cetius and Selinus join to create the Caicus River, the Kingdom of Pergamon was founded in the 3rd century BC by Philetarios, a commander who served under Lysimachos. The kingdom faced repeated skirmishes with the invading Gauls and, later, in allegiance to Rome, it fought and defeated the Seleucids. It thrived, nonetheless, as a center of culture and learning throughout the Hellenistc period, especially under the Attalid dynasty, when many of the building projects that you will see remains of today were undertaken. It was during this time that the famous Charta Pergamenta, the first sheepskin parchment, was developed. The library at Pergamon, built and founded by Eumenes II, rivaled that of the day’s foremost library in Alexandria and, out of jealousy, the Egyptian King, Ptolemy, banned the export of papyrus inspiring the invention of the new writing material. It is necessary to make note of the Asclepieion, a spa and center for healing and for the study of medicine established in Pergamon at the beginning of the 4th century BC and renowned throughout the Roman world. When Pergamon came under the control of the Romans in 133 BC, it continued to be an important center for culture and medicine, though not so much for politics as Ephesus became the regional capital.
Though Pergamon was a major center of pagan worship and not conducive to Christian life, the church there was well established by the end of the 1st century. It was severely challenged, however, by the activities of the pagan community and this struggle is what lies at the heart of the Book of Revelation’s message to the church at Pergamon. The Lord commends the congregation for its obedience, devotion and faithfulness in the face of the persecution, flagrant heathenism and impiety that was being practiced all around them in this city of temple worship and ritual sacrifice (Revelation 2:13). They are then condemned for loosely interpreting doctrine, compromising their morals and allowing themselves to be misled in order to satisfy their carnal desires and their worldly aspirations (Revelation 2:14,15). If they do not recognize the error of their ways and right themselves, they will face perdition; if they do prevail, they will receive sustenance from the Lord, blessings and more of the grace that is already working within them to allow them the capacity for faith (Revelation 2:16,17).
Among the many ruins at this sprawling site, you will have the opportunity to see the incredible theater that is set into a steep hillside, the famous library, the Temple of Trajan, the baths, the acropolis and more. The Asclepieion, where the famous medical researcher and physician, Galen, studied is located a few kilometers south of the acropolis. Though the impressive Zeus Altar has been removed to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, its foundations remain to be seen lying in the shade of large trees. What remains of Pergamon is quite extensive and well presented.
After suitable perusing of the ruins at Pergamon, you will be returned to your hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L)
DAY 5 – PAMUKKALE AND HIERAPOLIS TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Pamukkale Mineral Pools, Ancient City of Hierapolis
After an early breakfast and checkout from your hotel, you will be transferred in a comfortable new model minibus to Pamukkale where you will begin your guided tour of the mineral springs and the ancient city.
In Pamukkale, which means Cotton Castle in Turkish, you will see one of the natural wonders of the world, travertine terraces of hot spring pools, which have been formed by deposits of calcium carbonate. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site and is not open for bathing; however, during our break for lunch there may be an opportunity to bathe in a hot spring originating from the same waters but separate from the Heritage Site. After lunch, you will be taken to visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis. Founded in the second century BC by the king of Pergamum and ceded to Rome a few decades later in 133 BC, its thermal pools were revered by the ancients as sacred baths. The city was a thriving trading center in ancient times and is mentioned in the Bible by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians (Colossians 4:13). You will see the ancient city gates, baths, theater and necropolis.
After the tour you will be transferred to the bus terminal for your overnight bus ride to Urgup/Cappadocia. (B,L)
*Please note that you have the option to fly to Cappadocia this evening or the next day depending on flight scheduling.
DAY 6- NORTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR (Lunch)
Devrent and Monk's Valleys, Avanos, Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle
You will have an early morning arrival at the bus terminal in Urgup where you will be met and transferred to your hotel if time allows. In any case, there will be a bit of time for you to freshen up and grab some breakfast. At about 09:30 you will depart to join a small group for your full day guided tour of Cappadocia's northern region.
Your tour will begin by making a stop to take in the landscape of Devrent Valley after which you will view the striking fairy chimneys and other rock formations in the Monk’s Valley, where you will also see a chapel dedicated to the well known reclusive monk, St. Simeon as well as some small cave habitations that were carved and used by monks one thousand years ago. In Avanos, an artistic center that dates to Hittite occupation some 3500 years ago, you will have the opportunity to witness potters at their wheels. The red clay found at the Kizilirmak River, along the banks of which the village is located, has been used since the times of the Hittites to make functional and ornamental pottery. After a lunch break, you will move on to visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum where you will marvel at the numerous cave churches and monasteries with their richly frescoed walls painted by Orthodox Monks around 1000-1200 AD. See also the Uchisar Castle. Situated at the highest point in Cappadocia and providing superb panoramic vistas, it is a large rock formation full of interconnected rooms, stairs, tunnels and passages that have been carved from the tufa. Scattered throughout the immediate surroundings are several Roman tombs also cut from the tufa.
After the tour, at about 17:30, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Urgup. (L)
DAY 7- SOUTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Kaymakli Underground City, Cavusin, Red Valley, Ortahisar Castle
Today you will begin with a visit to the remarkable underground city of Kaymakli, which was occupied during the period of early Christianity when the local population went underground for protection. When the Arabs invaded Asia Minor in the 7th and 8th centuries, Cappadocia remained relatively undisturbed by the conflicts; perhaps due to the fact that the monks and local Christians went underground, literally, excavating the subterranean cities and richly frescoed cave churches which you can explore today. Kaymakli is one of many such complexes that have been discovered in the region. Wind through the network of tunnels and chambers as you descend several levels underground. The tour will then visit Cavusin, an old Christian village, where you will see a triple apse church and the Monastery of St. John the Baptist. The day's touring includes lunch and an easy grade, three kilometer hike through the Red Gulludere Valley, inaccessible by automobile and providing absolutely breathtaking scenery. Walk among the fantastic rock formations and along the way discover hidden frescoed cave churches. Before tour's end, visit the natural landmark of Ortahisar Castle and enjoy the panoramic view of fairy chimneys and the generally fantastic landscape.
After the tour, at about 17:30, you will have a bit of time to relax before you will be transferred to the Kayseri Airport for your flight to Istanbul. As you exit baggage claim upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be met by a True Blue representative for transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)
*Please note that you have the option to stay the night in Cappadocia returning to Istanbul the following day for connection with your international flight if your flight schedule will allow for necessary connection time.
DAY 8- DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL
After breakfast and check out from your hotel by noon, you will be picked up according to your travel schedule and transferred to Ataturk Airport for your final departure from Istanbul. (B)
Please make note of the following:
