ITINERARY SUMMARY
DAY 1- ISTANBUL ARRIVAL
Transfer to hotel from airport. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2- BEST OF ISTANBUL TOUR
Breakfast in hotel. Guided tour of Underground Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), Roman Hippodrome and monuments, Hagia Sophia Museum, Lunch, Bosphorus Cruise, Cable Car to Pierre Loti Hill Café, Rustem Pasa Mosque. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)
DAY 3- FREE DAY IN ISTANBUL
Breakfast in hotel and the day at leisure to explore Istanbul as you wish. Option to book a daily tour. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
DAY 4- FLY TO IZMIR TOUR EPHESUS AND LAODECIA
Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Izmir. Pick up and begin tour. Ephesus and Laodecia. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,L,D)
DAY 5- HIERAPOLIS, PHILIDELPHIA, SARDIS, THYATIRA
Breakfast in hotel. Tour the ancient city ruins of Hierapolis, Philidelphia, Sardis and Thyatira. Dinner and overnight in Bergama. (B,L,D)
DAY 6- PERGAMON AND IZMIR
Breakfast in hotel. Tour the ancient city ruins of Pergamon. Continue to Izmir and tour the Church of St. Polycarp, Kadifekale (Mount Pagos) and what remains of the ancient agora. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,L,D)
DAY 7- TO CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Kayseri where you will be met for transfer to your cappadocia hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B)
DAY 8- NORTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR
Breakfast in hotel. Full day guided tour with lunch. Return transfer to hotel and overnight in Cappadocia. (B,L)
DAY 9- SOUTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR
DAY 10- FINAL DEPARTURE
Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to airport for early morning flight to Istanbul Ataturk Airport where you will connect with your international departure. (B)
*Please note that you have the option to fly to Istanbul after your tour on Day 9 if your final departure from Istanbul is early in the day on Day 10.
DESCRIPTIVE ITINERARY
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)
DAY 3- FREE DAY IN ISTANBUL (Breakfast)
Enjoy breakfast service in your hotel and take a day to explore Istanbul at your leisure. We will be happy to make suggestions and to help you with directions. If you wish, we'll arrange a daily tour or an evening show for you. Please see the Istanbul section of our Daily Tours Around Turkey for ideas. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
DAY 4- FLY TO IZMIR EPHESUS AND LAODICEA (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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 for commencement of your Seven Churches Tour. The tour will begin with the ancient city of Ephesus, a splendid site that is quite large and well presented.
There is evidence of human habitation in the area around Ephesus as far back as the bronze age and Mycenaean artifacts have been excavated close to the archaeological site that you will visit today. The famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is believed to have first been constructed by these early Greeks and devout veneration of Artemis carried on here until Byzantine times. Ephesus was built by the sea on the north slope of Mount Pion extending southward to the slope of Mount Koressos and was first founded as an Ionian colony of Athens some 1000 years before Christ. It prospered through the centuries and developed into a center of trade and banking despite varied and inconsistent leadership. In the 7th century BC the city fell to the Lydians and many advancements were made during the administration of the famous Lydian King, Croesus, who ruled Ephesus until losing his entire kingdom to the Persians after invading Persia and being soundly defeated by Cyrus the Great in 546 BC. The Persians ruled until the campaign of Alexander the Great crushed the forces of King Darius III at the battle of Granicus in 334 BC, returning Ephesus to Greek domination. The city was rebuilt and fortified with city walls by Lysimachus, who had been left in charge of the city by Alexander. Through the following two centuries, Ephesus was ruled in turn by the Selucid, Egyptian and Pergamon Empires until the last King of Pergamon, Attalus III, bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans in avoidance of all out war.
The Roman period in Ephesus got off to a rocky start as the region in which it is located was so deeply rooted in Greek culture and tradition. Under Caesar Augustus, who ruled the roman empire from 27 BC until his death 14 AD, Ephesus entered its golden age. It became Rome’s Asian capital, prospered as a major center of commerce and is estimated to have had at least 300,000 residents by the year 100 AD. From the other cities in Asia Minor, all roads led to Ephesus.
The apostle, Paul, came to Ephesus during this time of success and abundance. As described in Acts, chapter 19, he lived in the city and ministered to its citizens for two years in the middle of the 1st century, gaining many believers and also facing harsh opposition from the Jews and from the pagan worshippers of Diana, the Roman equivalent of Artemis. It is believed that he wrote his letter to the Corinthians and possibly others during his stay and that Ephesus was merely a base from which he and his close associates spread Jesus’ message into the surrounding region. It was largely through Paul’s efforts and his perseverance in the face of severe persecution that the Seven Churches of Revelation took root in their respective communities.
Revelation’s message to the Christians of Ephesus begins with the Lord’s metaphorical reminder that He is their sovereign while at the same time intimately connected to them (Revelation 2:1). He then shows His compassion by acknowledging their diligence and their devotion to obedience, their enduring perseverance and strength and the tenacity and purity of their conviction (Revelation 2:2,3). He cautions the faithful in Ephesus that their focus on doctrinal piety and their congregational catharsis has caused a crisis in their fellowship and that, among them, there is a loss of trust and benevolence. They must regain their esteem for one another and the love that the family of their church once shared or, they are warned, they will lose their position as a testimonial pillar in the greater Christian Church (Revelation 2;4,5). If they can restore their kinship, they are promised eternal blessings (Revelation 2:7).
You will tour the ancient city of Ephesus extensively with your guide. Explore the white marble wonder of this ancient city and marvel at the spectacular ruins of the Celsus Library, 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 upon the Mount of the Nightingale seven kilometers south of the ancient city of Ephesus. Here the Virgin Mother 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 by Catherine Emmerich, who claimed to have been shown this neighborhood in visions that she had of the Virgin Mother. Soon after, this site 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 visit St. John’s Basilica. A church of great importance in Ephesus during the Byzantine era, it was constructed by the Roman emperor, Justinian, in the 6th century BC and is located upon what is believed to be the burial site of St. John, the apostle, author of the Gospel of John and recorder of Revelation.
Before heading towards Pamukkale, a traditional Turkish meal will be served for lunch in a local restaurant.
Just before arrival in Pamukkale, you will stop to visit the ruins at Laodicea the first of the Seven Churches of Revelation that you will visit over the next days. Situated at the crossroads of ancient trade routes and having produced a black wool that was highly sought after, under Roman dominion, Laodicea was one of the most successful commercial cities of its time in Asia Minor and was also well known for its medical school. We know from the late 1st century writings of Josephus that there was likely a large Jewish population in the city and, from his letter to the people of nearby Colossae, that Paul was concerned also with the people in Laodicea as well as their neighbors in Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13,15,16). The city’s remaining ruins leave no doubt as to the prosperity of the local population and in Revelation the angel of the church at Laodicea is described as boastful about the accumulation of wealth, full of pride, self-satisfied, deluded and, furthermore, ignorant of its spiritual indigence (Revelation 3:17). Jesus advises the Laodiceans to wholeheartedly repent, to change their self-perception, to strive for purity and to revive and deepen their faith (3:18,19). He offers them His grace and salvation should they attain spiritual triumph (3:20,21). In reference to the choice of wording used to describe the lack of obedience to God amongst the Laodiceans, lukewarm, neither cold nor hot (3:16); it is interesting to note that water was supplied to the city from a hot spring about 4 miles away through an aqueduct that you will see ruins of today along with others including walls and temples, the stadium, gymnasium and theaters.
Upon arrival in Pamukkale, which means ‘Cotton Castle’ in Turkish, you will visit the famous and picturesque travertine pools, one of the world’s natural wonders. View the terraces of hot spring pools which have been formed by deposits of white calcium carbonate. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site and is not open for bathing; however, your hotel provides thermal soaking pools of water which has been piped from the same springs that have formed the terraces. Overnight in Pamukale. (B,L,D)
DAY 5- HIERAPOLIS, PHILADELPHIA, SARDIS, THYATIRA (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast and check-out, you will depart to visit the nearby ruins at 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. Its location upon a popular trade route and its close association with the neighboring cities of Loadicea and Colossae, together with the allure of its famed thermal springs, insured Hierapolis’ prosperity. As evidenced by sarcophagi in the necropolises, there was a significant Jewish population among these cities which became the foundation of what became a strong center of Christianity quite early on in its proliferation. We know that the early spread of Christianity into Asia Minor is attributed to the apostle, Paul, and his close associates, Barnabas and Silas. Paul mentions Hierapolis specifically in his letter to the Colossians (Colossians 4:13). St. Phillip, the apostle, is believed by many to have been martyred here in 80 AD and you will visit ruins of the large martyrium built and dedicated to him here in the 5th century. You will see also the ancient city gates, Roman baths, the well preserved theater, necropolis and much more.
After you have explored these ruins sufficiently, you will be on your way towards Izmir. Within an hour you will arrive to visit the scant ruins of Philadelphia, located at the edge of the small town of Alaşehir. Philadelphia was established at the beginning of the 2nd century BC by the King of Pergamon. Like Aphrodisius, it was a center of pagan worship well known for its temples that later developed into a thriving Byzantine Christian community.
Having received no condemnation by Christ in his Revelation message, Philadelphia is known as the good church, abiding, loyal and steadfast in the face of persecution (Revelation 3: 8-10). He offers the community of believers an open door and tells them that if they continue forth in their faithfulness they will become pillars in the Temple of God (Revelation 3: 8,12). Here, it is interesting to note that the city had suffered a devastating earthquake in 17 AD and the residents may have been in need of emotional security and strong foundations.
The city prospered, especially during the 13th and 14th centuries when the Genoese set up a trading colony to benefit form its production of leather goods and red-dyed silk. (The name Alasehir means City of Red in english). Philadelphia is known for having resisted Ottoman rule and it was the last Byzantine stronghold remaining in inner Asia Minor until it was finally overtaken around 1400. All that remains of Roman Philadelphia is a small theater at the edge of the hill overlooking Alaşehir and its Byzantine ruins are limited to three of the great pillars that supported the dome of St. John’s Basilica, built early 7th century.
We will continue on the road for about thirty minutes for our next stop to visit the ruins of Sardis, where excavations have uncovered settlement levels dating as far back as 1400 BC. By 700 BC Sardis had become the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia, which arose in the 12th century BC after the collapse of the Hittite Empire. It was located on the banks of the Pactolus, the river of Greek mythological legend whose sands turned into gold when King Midas was told by Bacchus that he may wash off his cursed power in its waters. It is believed that the famous Lydian King, Croesus, who is known as being the first monarch in history to have minted coins, became extraordinarily wealthy from the gold that he found in the Pactolus.
The city fell into the hands of the Persian Achaemenid empire when Cyrus the Great defeated King Croesus in 547 BC. After Alexander’s conquest and death, the city went to the Seleucids before falling under the control of Pergamon, whose last king bequeathed it to the Romans, along with the rest of his kingdom, in avoidance of all out war. During Roman times, the status of the city grew along with its population until it was one of the most influential centers of trade and commerce in the region. It was well known for its manufacture of dyes and dyed woolen products. The synagogue at the excavation site, the largest yet found in the ancient world, attests to the size and influence of Sardis’ Jewish population. When Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in 330, a system of roads was developed in order to connect the new capital with the provinces. The new routes left the city less well connected than it had been previously and its commercial status suffered; though, it did remain an important church center and episcopal see, with bishops serving right up through the modern era.
The message from Revelation that was intended for Sardis is one of general condemnation for a congregation that had become lifeless in its obedience to God, despite the city’s status as a thriving business center. They are cautioned to wake up, to become aware of their shortcomings, to nourish what seeds remain within themselves, and to emulate those among them who are watchful and pure, that their community may enliven and grow out of its stale spiritual condition. Those who overcome the crisis of faith will be rewarded with recognition and salvation. Revelation (3:1-5)
The excavations at Sardis are extensive and among many capitals and columns and statuary, you will see the Temple of Artemis, the gymnasium complex which includes the baths and the synagogue, with its intricately inlaid marble details. At the site of the acropolis, you will see remains of 6th century BC city walls as well as those of a Byzantine church.
We will continue northward to visit the ruins of Thyatira, which are located within the town of Akhisar. Thyatira also fell under the rule of the Kingdom of Pergamon after Alexander’s death. Located in a wide, shallow and fertile valley between two rivers, it was built up as a military outpost to be a first line of defense for the more important centers beyond, in Pergamon and Ephesus. Eventually, the Roman armies captured the garrison; and, when Attalus III finally surrendered his Pergamonian Kingdom over to the Romans in 133 BC, thus ushering in an era of security and peace, Thyatira began to develop into a prosperous city, its growth ensured by its location on the road between Pergamon and the other cities which you have visited on this tour. As evidenced by several inscriptions that have been found during excavations of the site, the commerce here was based on production by the various guilds of the artisan workers of wool, linen, leather, bronze, dye, bakeries and slave trading, among others. Thyatira was well known for its manufacture of dyes; in particular, a purple dye obtained from the root of the madder plant which we see referenced by Paul when he mentions Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth form Thyatira. (Acts 16:14)
Christianity came early to Thyatira, though it was corrupted by the staunch pagan practices of the guild culture. In order to make connections, obtain property and gain influence among these guilds, it was imperative to participate in the debauchery of their feast banquets, which included ritual sacrifice and unrestrained lasciviousness. The message that St. John received and conveyed to the church at Thyatira begins with dramatic imagery to convey the Lord’s authority as well as His indignation at this behavior; and, more significantly, at the tolerance of this behavior and the tolerance of Jezebel, the false prophetess who had enticed and led the faithful astray despite their good works, service and forbearance (Revelation 2:18-20). The congregation is castigated by the Lord and warned that unless those who have succumbed to this impiety reform and repent wholeheartedly, they will suffer great pains to come in their just desserts (vv. 21-23). They are implored and encouraged to persevere, to adhere to whatever faithfulness remains within them and to whatever fellowship remains among them. Their endurance will be rewarded in the promise of ascendancy and of unity with Christ (Revelation 2:25-28). It is interesting to note that by the beginning of the 3rd century, Thyatira had flourished into a solid Christian community and sent its bishops to attend the great ecumenical councils in Nicea and in Ephesus.
The modern city of Akhisar has taken over most of the ancient city and few ruins remain; though, there are walls remnant of a 5th or 6th century basilica as well as some older columns and arches and other scattered stone and marble upon which Greek inscriptions can be seen.
This will conclude our sightseeing for the day and we will be on our way to Bergama for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 6- PERGAMON AND IZMIR (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast in your hotel, we will depart for the extensive archaeological site at Pergamon. Artifacts have been found here 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, who had been one of Alexander's generals. 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 sheep-skin 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, which was a spa and center for healing and for the study of medicine established in Pergamon at the beginning of the 4th century BC. Pergamon came under the control of the Romans in 133 BC and 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 message is similar to the one sent to Thyatira. 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 mislead 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 from the Lord sustenance, 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 proceed about an hour’s drive to Izmir, Turkey’s third largest metropolis.
Izmir has a spectacular location at the end of a long bay of the Aegean Sea, which has made it a perfect harbor throughout its long history. Excavations show that there have been human settlements there since the Bronze Age and a colony of Ionian and Aeolian Greeks was established as early as 1000 BC with city walls dating to the 8th century BC. The city at Smyrna was destroyed by Lydian invaders around 600 BC and was nonexistent until the end of the 3rd century BC when Lysimachus won control over central and western Asia Minor and had a new and magnificent city built at Smyrna upon Mount Pagos. After a century and a half of domination under the Kingdom of Pergamon, Smyrna became a leading city in the new Asian province of the Roman Empire. Having had no prior ties to Rome and in order to cultivate good relations with its new ruler, the city built a temple to the goddess Roma establishing the cult of Roma. Smyrna was known for its loyalty and the emperors responded by contributing heavily to its security and development. During the Roman period, the city was on par with Ephesus and Pergamon in terms of its cultural, political and architectural status.
The first reference to early Christianity in Smyrna is from the Book of Revelation. As with the other six churches of Revelation, the early Christian congregation in Smyrna was challenged by the longer established system of pagan worship and they faced persecution by the local Jewish population, as well. The Lord’s message commends the Christians of Smyrna for their devotion in the face of the severe pressure and suffering that was brought on their church by the local Jewish opposition and also acknowledges their spiritual wealth in the face of abject material poverty (Revelation 2:9). He appeals to them to have no fear, to remain unwaveringly courageous that their conviction be undeterred by future trials that may even include martyrdom (Revelation 2:10). If they are able to remain steadfast in their witness for God, they are promised a ‘crown of life’ or exaltation and eternal blessings after this earthly life (Revelation 2:10,11). The language used is significant in that the monuments of ancient Smyrna ringed Mount Pagos much like a crown.
An early bishop of the church at Smyrna and a respected leader of early Asia Minor Christians in general, St. Polycarp is believed to have been martyred in Smyrna by burning in the middle of the 2nd century. He was one of the most influential of the Apostolic Fathers. These were a small group of early church leaders and authors who had personal relationships among Jesus’ twelve disciples and who were significant in the development of the church. Through their associations with the apostles, they were in a position to authenticate or repudiate the different interpretations of Jesus’ message that were being preached in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries. St. Polycarp is memorialized in Izmir’s oldest standing church which was built and dedicated to him in the early 17th century following an agreement between the French King, Louis XIII and the Ottoman Sultan, Suleyman.
You will visit the Church of St. Polycarp and also contemplate the view from Mount Pagos, known locally today as Kadifekale, as well as what remains of a castle, cistern and city walls that were built there by Lysimachos. The 4th century BC agora sits not far to the north of Kadifekale and you will visit its scattered ruins.
After the tour, you will be transferred to your Izmir Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 7- TO CAPPADOCIA (Breakfast)
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival in Kayseri, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your cappadocia hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B)
DAY 8- NORTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Devrent and Monk's Valleys, Avanos, Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle
After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up at around 09:30 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 Cappadocia. (B,L)
*Please note the option for an early morning hot air balloon ride on Day 8 or Day 9. This is a sunrise excursion. Pick up from the hotel is around 05:30 and return to the hotel allows time for breakfast before pick up for the day’s tour.
DAY 9- SOUTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Kaymakli Underground City, Cavusin, Red Valley, Ortahisar Castle
After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up at around 09:30 for your full day guided tour of Cappadocia’s southern region.
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 be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Urgup. (B,L)
DAY 10- FINAL DEPARTURE (Breakfast)
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for an early morning flight to Istanbul Ataturk Airport where you will connect with your international departure. (B)
Please make note of the following:
