7 Churches Trip – 7 Days

Starting from €500 / per person

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Day 1 / Welcome to Izmir

Tour Highlight : Hotel Transfer

Overnight : Izmir / 4 Star Hotel

Meal Plan : L

Tour Description : After meeting your Professional private tour guide and driver from your hotel or port; The remainder of the day is free. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 2 / Izmir – Pergamum (2:12-17) – Thyatıra (2:18-29 Acts 16:14)

Tour Highlight : Pergamon, Asclepion, Acropolis, Thyatira

Overnight : Izmir / 4 Star Hotel

Meal Plan : B – L

Tour Description : After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. You will have a 1 hour journey and drive to Pergamum: first an ancient Kingdom dated back 323 B.C. This Hellenistic city was the center of culture, commerce and medical with its philosophers, scientists and artists like Galen (131-210 AD). Acropolis, remains of celebrated library, an impressive Hellenistic style 10000 spectator capacity theater, marble columned temples of Trajan and the Temple of Dionysus, the Temple of Athena, library of Pergamum once catered 200.000 volumes, (It’s not hard to guess the first parchment paper was invented here) the sanctuary of Demeter, Zeus Altar one of the grandest monuments; Satan’s Throne caused the Christian church criticized by St. John and great medical treatment center Asclepion where the symbol of modern medicine came from. After lunch we’ll proceed another Christian community mentioned in the book of Revelations. Thyatira (Akhisar), the temple that is dedicated to St. John was converted into a basilica. We’ll explore the remains of Basilica. Later we’ll proceed for Izmir passing by Manisa reflecting the great architecture from Ottoman Empire time. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 3 / Izmir – Smyrna (2:8-11)

Tour Highlight : Smyrna, Velvet Castle, Agora, St.Polycarp Church, Kizlaragasi Caravenserai

Overnight : Izmir/ 4 Star Hotel

Meal Plan : B – L

Tour Description : After breakfast, you will have a full day tour in Izmir district. Tour starts with the visit of Alexander Great’s Velvet Castle & Agora, watch the spectacular view of Izmir Bay from here. Proceed to Ethnography Museum where you can find simply everything related to the Turkish culture as well as the culture of Aegean people. After Ethnography Museum we’ll pop in Archaeological Museum. Thereafter you will have a lunch with a beautiful Izmir view. After this delicious stop, you will visit the Saint Polycarp Church which is the oldest church in Izmir and represents ancient Smyrna’s role as one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. You can spend your time here as long as you want. Later we’ll serve you a traditional Turkish coffee or your favorite apple tea in ancient Kizlaragasi Caravenserai. After visiting Hisaronu having an Ottoman Empire time atmosphere we’ll take you to the hotel. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 4 / Izmir – Sardis (3:1-6) – Philadelphia (3:7-13)

Tour Highlight : Sardis, Philadelphia

Overnight : Pamukkale / 4 Star Hotel

Meal Plan : B – L

Tour Description : In the morning we’ll depart for Sardis, capital of the Lydian realm of Croesus, lying on the Sart Cayi (Pactole River). Here you’ll face the inventions of mankind. The first coins were minted in Sardis, did you know that? We’ll enter from the marble way passing by the old Byzantine shops. Another must to see is old Synagogue (3rd A.D.) with its dazzling decoration and style. Next to that there is a gymnasium restored for the visitors. Further down The Temple of Artemis meets you with a few columns however it’s still impressive, next you’ll see the Altar that was restored by Alexander the Great and Romans. Odun köfte (wooden grill meat balls) is a special dish in Salihli. Join us to have this delicious lunch. After lunch we’ll proceed for Philadelphia (not only in Pennsylvania State but also in Turkey) We’ll walk thru the streets of Philadelphia in Alasehir, then we’ll arrive at Pamukkale, a magical and spectacular natural site, unique in the world, that was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Here is a fairyland of dazzling white, petrified castles. Thermal spring waters with calcareous salts running off the plateau’s edge have created this fantastic formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. The hot springs have been used since Roman times for their therapeutic powers. You’ll certainly need this in order recharge your body as ancient people did. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 5 / Izmir – Laodicea (3:14-22) – Hierapolıs – Aphrodisias

Tour Highlight : Laodicea, Hierapolis Ancient City, Aphrodisias

Overnight : Kusadasi / 4 Star Hotel

Meal Plan : B – L

Tour Description : In the morning we’ll start with Laodicea (Eskihisar) the lukewarm country. It was a commercial city situated in the trade routes. The two theaters, the stadium and the other ruins await for your visit here. The city was established 3rd century BC and the King of Syria Antiochus the Second Theos gave the name of his wife to the city. Roman water arches are still visible. Laodicea unfortunately displays very limited history however it’s important to see as it’s in the Book of Revelation. The second stop is Hierapolis with its best preserved baths. From East to the West there was a street having shops that lined up as every ancient city. The Basilica (dated back 6th Century AD), The temple of Apollo, the well preserved theater that can cater 14.000 spectator at a time and the carved figures on the interior door must be seen in Hiearapolis. Next we’ll see the church was devoted to St. Philip and the Domitian Arch. Necropolis where over 1200 cemeteries were excavated is another important site of Hierapolis. Because of the healthy water of Pamukkale this city once was called as a Sacred city. Time to have lunch and rest a bit. After lunch, we’ll enter Aphrodisias, one of the important religious sites dated back to 2800 BC. Aphrodite the goddess of love was also called Venus by Romans. After 8th century, the city became more popular due to the temple of Aphrodisias a favorite place for the pilgrims for almost 1000 years. The whole city collapses 520 acres. The city walls surround about over 3,5 km that was built at late Roman period. The ruins of Sebasteion; the theater established in late Hellenistic period; the sculptures (mostly displayed in the museum), the ruins of the baths, gymnasium, the Byzantium Stavropolis are the major sights. Along the Acropolis we’ll examine the baths with carved gates devoted both Aphrodite and Hadrian; the big pool which was excavated by the archaeologists in the recent years, the most beautiful marble construction the Odeon. The Temple of Aphrodite, the Bishop’s church, the two columned Tetraphylon and well preserved stadium for 30000 spectator. Aphrodisias is an important ancient city in terms of art as well as science and philosophy. Later we’ll depart for Kusadasi for overnight.

Day 6 / Kusadasi – Ephesus (1:11, 2:1-7 Acts 18:19-28, 19:1-41) (Ephesians 19:24-40)

Tour Highlight : Ephesus Ancient City, House of Virgin Mary, Basilica of St.John, Sirince Village

Overnight : Kusadasi / 4 Star Hotel

Meal Plan : B – L

Tour Description : Today we’ll invite you to one of the greatest archaeological sites as well as Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation. Ephesus where St. Paul Preached is an ancient city that you’ll never get bored to discover with its marble paved streets. The Third Ecumenical Council was held in Ephesus. The east Gymnasium, the state Agora, the remain of the Temple of Isis (Goddess of Egypt), the Heracletes Gate, Curates Street named for the college of priests located here, Scholastic Baths, well preserved two storey Celcus Library, Marble Road, great theater that is still hosting the concerts and festivals, Arcadian way, (Harbor Street) once lined up with shops towards the harbor and the Basilica of St. Johnare the main places for our informative tour in Ephesus. Time to visit Ephesus museum with its treasure. Later we’ll wind up Virgin Mary’s House that was visited by Popes and is considered as a pilgrimage site for Catholics as well. You’ll get the chance to drink holy water from the sacred spring there. After Ephesus, we’ll depart for Selçuk and typical Turkish Village Sirince which is famous for its tasty wine & gozleme cooked in wooden stove in a traditional atmosphere. After Sirince we’ll go back to Kusadasi for overnight.

Day 7 / Kusadasi – Izmir

Tour Highlight : Airport Transfer

Overnight : –

Meal Plan : B

Tour Description : Well, it was pleasure to share these precious moments with you. Transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. Time to have your present in order to make this trip memorable. Thanks for choosing us.

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