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7 Churches 8 Days Tour
Duration: 7 Nights - 8 Days
DAY 1 : ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL & TRANSFER TO HOTEL
Arrival at Istanbul airport.
Transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 : BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS TOUR
Breakfast, 
Full day tour Old City.
HAGIA SOPHIA: Built like a cathedral of Constantinople in 537 converted to a mosque from 29 May 1453.Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. Opened as a museum on 1935.Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture.
BLUE MOSQUE: Also called Sultan Ahmed Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616.Named Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.
HIPPODROME: the Hippodrome of Constantinople ,Sultanahmet Meydani nowadays. was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire.
TOPKAPI PALACE: the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years.Initial construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople.
Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3 : IZMIR (PERGAMON/THYATIRA )
Transfer to the airport.
Flight to Izmir.
Tour starts visiting
PERGAMON: Among the impressive structures of this city, dating from 399 B.C., we will see the
ALTAR OF ZEUS, TEMPLE OF DIONYSUS: and the 200,000 volume library which was surpassed only by that found in Alexandria at the time.
The Asclepieum of Pergamon was a famous health center where methods of treatment included blood transfusions, music therapy and meditation. On our way back to Izmir, we will stop by Thyatira to see the remains of the church. This was one of the principle towns where Christianity spread quickly. We journey back to Izmir for the night.
DAY 4 : PAMUKKALE (SARDIS /PHILADELPHIA)
SARDIS: located in the Hermus Valley is one of the seven churches of Revelation.
TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS: completed around 550 BC . The monument was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia was a prosperous Byzantine city. It has several mosques and Christian churches
Overnight at Pamukkale.
DAY 5 : PAMUKKALE (LAODICEA / APHRODISIAS)
We journey on to Laodicea Ad Lyceum where the remains are found on a flat-topped hill. Christianity came to the area during the time of St. Paul, brought by Epaphras of Colossae. Laodicea became the seat of Bishopric and hosted an important Ecumenical Council in the fourth century A.D., it was named in the Revelations as one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Highlights will be the Water Tower, Stadium and the Council Chamber. Our next stop will be Aphrodisias, a site presently under excavation. Highlights will include the Stadium, the Baths of Hadrian, the Theater and the "Bishop's Palace"
Overnight at Kusadasi.
DAY 6 : EPHESUS 
Ephesus and first visit the Basilica of St.John, "the Evangelist" who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel. Close by is the House of the Virgin Mary where she is believed to have spent her last years. On August 18th, 1961, Pope John XXII proclaimed the House of Virgin Mary at Ephesus to be sacred. You will have a chance to take a phial of Holy Water from the Sacred Spring. Dinner and Overnight in Izmir.
DAY 7 : FLIGHT BACK TO ISTANBUL
Early morning transfer to Izmir Airport flight to Istanbul.
Transfer to your hotel.
Today is FREE.
Overnight in Istanbul.
(Included meals: Breakfast).
DAY 8 : DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL
Breakfast.
Transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
• Round trip flight tickets. (Istanbul-Izmir,Izmir-Istanbul) • 3 night hotel stay in Istanbul at 4 star or 5 star hotels depending on the tour package you have choosen.(including breakfast) • 2 night hotel stay in Izmir at 4 star or 5 star hotels depending on the tour package you have choosen.(including breakfast) • 1 night hotel stay in Kusadasi at 4 star or 5 star hotels depending on the tour package you have choosen.(including breakfast) • 1 night hotel stay in Pamukkaleat 4 star or 5 star hotels depending on the tour package you have choosen.(including breakfast) • 1 Full Day Tour of Istanbul with lunch. • 1 Full Day Tour of PERGAMON/THYATIRA with lunch. • 2 Full Day Tour of Pamukkale with lunch. • 1 Full Day Tour of Ephesus with lunch. • All transportation and transfers (Pick up and drop off from the hotels to the airport and from airport to the hotels). • Overland transportation by A/C vehicle. • Professional licensed guiding services. • Meals mentioned by the itinerary. • Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary. • Services charges and local taxes.
Departure Days: Daily Minimum 8 Persons Currency is in U.S. Dollars (USD)
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