CLASSICAL RELIGION TOUR
7 Days
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Arrival to Istanbul. Transfer directly to hotel. All day will be free for leisure. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. |
DAY 2 : KAYSERI - CAPPADOCIA
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Departure from hotel at 06:00 for flight to Kayseri by Turkish Airlines TK260. Arrival time to Kayseri is 10:00.Today we will first drive to Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a wonderful region formed by volcano eruptions centuries ago. Erosions by wind, rain and snow caused many interesting shapes, which gives the impression that we are in the scene of a science fiction movie. Starting from the third century BC, Cappadoccia also became a religious centre for Christianity. We will visit Goreme open-air museum with its many carved churches. Afterwards we will discover the region with different valleys, each with breathtaking landscapes such as Zelve. We will also see Pasabag vineyards. Lunch at a local restaurant in Cappadoccia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadoccia. |
DAY 3 : CAPPADOCIA - KONYA
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Whole day will be spent in Cappadoccia region which displays a beautiful combination of nature and history. The geographic movements had formed the fairy chimneys and during the historical development process, mankind had settled and inhabited these natural wonders, fairy chimneys and carved houses and churches inside these formations and adorned these settlements with frescos, carrying the traces of the thousands of years of their civilizations. Staring from the 4th Century on, Cappadoce has also been chosen as a Christian center. Today we will see Derinkuyu underground city which is approximately 85m deep. It contains all the usual rooms found in an underground settlement (stables, cellars, refectories, churches, wineries etc.).The next stop will be Avanos. The main economic activity in the town is pottery, a craft dating back to the Hittite period. The red clay, which is worked by local craftsmen, comes from the residue in the Kizilirmak river. We will also see Guvercinlik, Uchisar and L. Canyon. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Konya |
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Departure from hotel at 09:00 and drive to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is unique and famous with its white travertine terraces. The source rich in minerals has a healing power which is very early been discovered. We will visit a city, called Hierapolis has been founded as part of the Pergamon Kingdom. The site is known because of its acropolis; ancient cemetery. We will also see Loadikeia. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale at a thermal hotel. |
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Departure from hotel at 09:00 and drive to Izmir. We will visit Philadelphia, Sart, Akhisar, Pergamon, Acropolis, Asclepion. The Acropolis was built on an extremely steep hill, approached by a winding road ascending some 300m. In this uniquely designed city, religious, official, social and commercial buildings are all found side-by-side. Asclepion translates as ’place of Aesklepios’, the son of Apollo and the god of healing and health, and was an important health centre in Greco-Roman times. Among the types of therapy practiced here were mud baths, sports, theatre, psychotherapy and use of medicinal waters. Aesklepion has a passageway running through the centre alongside the sacred spring towards the therapy building. It is thought that patients were cured here by the sound of running water and by the persuasive hypnotic techniques used by the priests. We will also see Sart, Akhisar. Lunch at a local restaurant. After a tired but a beautiful day dinner and overnight in Izmir. |
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Departure from hotel at 09:00.Today we will have a visit to Efesus. During our walk through the site we will see beautiful tempels, agora’s, marble streets, the Celsus library, theaters etc. in good shape. Only little imagination is needed to go some centuries back and feel daily life in the Roman or Greek period. We will also see visit St. Policarp Church, St. John Church, St. Mary House. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will go to Izmir Airport for flight to Istanbul at 17:00 by Turkish Airlines TK332. We will arrive Istanbul at 18:00. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul |
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Departure from hotel for full day tour of Istanbul. Istanbul, once known as an important capital has many unique features. It is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires - Byzantine and Ottoman. The city still remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here. After having breakfast we will tour the “Old City”. This is the centre from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. First visit of the Hippodrome, centre of sportive (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Subsequently visit of the Basilica of St. Sophia and Topkapi Palace with treasury section and harem. Hereafter visit of the Blue Mosque, the latter one is famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets and is built for Sultan Ahmet. After the visits there will be some free time at Taksim Square. This is one of the city’s focal points for shopping, entertainment and urban promenading and is a fine example of the contrasts and compositions of Istanbul with fashion shops, bookshops, cinemas, markets, restaurants. Lunch at Okyanus Restaurant. Flight back to home country. |
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İstanbul |
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