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Day 1 - Istanbul
Arrival
at Istanbul airport , you will be met and transferred to
your hotel. A short briefing and Welcome Cocktail in the
evening. (D)
Day 2 - Istanbul
Following
breakfast, we drive to the 'Old City' where we will visit
the Hippodrome, The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the
Blue Mosque, famous for its delicate blue ceramic tiles and
Saint Sophia. This church - turned mosque - turned museum
takes the breath away with the sheer architectural size of
its interior and magnificent dome and next we will visit the
spectacular Topkapi Palace. Built on one of the seven hills
of Istanbul, this huge complex commands views of the Sea of
Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. It was the seat
of government for the Ottoman Empire for many centuries
(1453-1852) and we will see the extravagant Treasury, the
priceless Chinese porcelain. Following our return to the
hotel for a quick rest and a change, we will proceed to
welcome the evening with dinner at an Istanbul night spot
with live music and Belly Dancing. (B,L,D)
Day
3 - Istanbul
Our
morning starts with a visit to the aromatic Spice Bazaar,
where the smells of cinnamon, cloves and thyme, rise from
hundreds of colourful muslin bags at every store-front. We
then board our ferry boat for a relaxing cruise along the
shores of the legendary Bosphorus, the natural gateway that
divides Asia and Europe. As you sit back and enjoy Turkish
coffee or well-brewed tea from traditional small cups,
numerous summer palaces and palatial homes will pass by on
either side. Disembarking at the northern end of the Strait,
we proceed to a restaurant for a tasty meal of local fish.
Following lunch we will travel by coach to the Suleymaniye
Mosque, built by master architect Sinan during the reign of
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver. The last stop
will be Grand Bazaar which is amost attractive shopping
center and the biggest "souk" in the world with
nearly 4000 shops of antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets and
leatherwear. (B,L,D)
Day
4 - Canakkale (Troy)
After
an early breakfast, we will begin our scenic drive down to
Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many
battles during WW1. Following a lunch break, we will cross
the second strategic waterway, the Dardanelles, and land in
Asia and proceed to Troy. Referred to in Homer's
"Iliad" and "Odyssey", Troy has in fact
nine cities superimposed one upon another. Troy Vl pertains
to the famous Trojan War of Homer where the legendary heroes
included Agamemnon, Achilles, Ulysses and Nestor on the
Greek side and, Priam, Hector and Paris on the Trojan side.
We will check-in our hotel in Canakkale for the evening. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Izmir
On
our journey to İzmir we will stop by the hauntingly
beautiful 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 centre where
methods of treatment included blood transfusions, music
therapy and meditation. Leaving Pergamon behind us we settle
at our hotel in Izmir. (B,L,D)
Day
6 - Kusadasi
Following
an early breakfast we will proceed to the old section of
Izmir called Kadife Kale which was a bastion built by
Alexander the Great when he moved the city to this
commanding location over the Bay of Üzmir. Heading further
south, we will arrive at the ancient city of Ephesus and
first visit the Basilica of St.John, who came here with the
Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel. To the southwest of the
Basilica stands the Isa Bey Mosque and further in the same
direction is the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders
of the world. Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the most
important cultural centres of the ancient world. Impressive
structures we will see include the Library of Celsus, Temple
of Hadrian, Theatre and Odeon. We will also visit the Museum
of Seljuk. 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 XXll proclaimed the House of Virgin
Mary at Ephesus to be sacred. You will have a chance to take
some of Holy Water from the Sacred Spring. (B,L,D)
Day
7 - Kusadasi
We
will leave early and journey to Priene which is an example
of a truly ancient city, whose history dates back to the
10th century B.C. Highlights include the Temple of Athena
Polias, the Ecclesiasterium and the Agora. We next visit
Miletus where the Philosopher Thales was born. He coined the
phrase "Know Thyself". We will inspect the
Delphinion, Baths of Faustina and the Council Chamber. Our
last visit is to Didyma which served as a religious
sanctuary to the god Apollo. The oracular inscriptions date
as far back as 600 B.C. Among the highlights are the Temple
of Apollo and the Stadium. We then return to Kuşadası for
the night. (B,L,D)
Day
8 - Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Leaving
our hotel early after breakfast, we will journey to
Pamukkale but on the way, we will stop over at one of the
most attractive ancient sites of the Aegean Region.
Aphrodisias was famous throughout the ancient world for her
Temple of Aphrodite and enjoyed great prosperity during the
Roman period. Some of the highlights include the Stadium,
the Baths of Hadrian and the Theatre. We continue on to
Pamukkale where the thermal water flows from natural pools
in white terraces. The ancient city of Hierapolis was named
after Hiera, wife of the founder of Pergamon. Highlights
include the Roman Baths, the Temple of Apollo and the
Nymphaeum. Overnight stay in Pamukkale. (B,L,D)
Day
9 - Antalya
We
leave our hotel straight after breakfast and begin a long
and scenic journey towards the sparkling turquoise coast.
After checking into our hotel in Antalya, we even have time
for a swim before dinner. (B,L,D)
Day
10 - Antalya
A
leisurely visit to three cities situated close to the hotel.
With its architectural and archaeological wealth, Perge is
one of the most interesting ancient cities. Even though
there is not much left to see on the Acropolis, there are
wide porticoed streets, lined with many fine buildings,
market places and gymnasiums. Next on our itinerary is
Aspendus whose Theatre is the best preserved in the world
with marvellous acoustics. Two of the other highlights will
be the Agora, and the Nymphaeum. Our last stop for the day
will be at Side, the last of these three antique cities.
Present day Side sits on top of the old city. Highlights
include the Temples of Athena and Apollo, the Agora and the
Museum. (B,L,D)
Day
11 - Konya
Our
trip today will take us over the beautiful Taurus Mountains
via the Lake District into Konya, the centre of the Seljuk
Empire, with many examples of Turkish Islamic art and
architecture. Konya is situated in the midst of a wind swept
plateau at an altitude of 1030 metres, and the city is so
old that a small hill has been excavated here containing the
bones of Bronze Age Man. (B,L,D)
Day
12 / 13 - Cappadocia
After
a city tour of Konya we proceed to Cappadocia but on the way
we stop by Sultanhanİ Caravanserai and Derinkuyu for a look
at this underground city which goes down eight different
levels into solid rock. We now journey into Cappadocia,
where the sights of the Fairy Chimneys are phenomenal,
especially when seen for the first time. The natural wonder
of Cappadocia is a result of volcanic deposits being eroded
away by wind and water over millions of years. These soft
rocks were hollowed out by early Christians and used as
secret dwellings as they were being sought first by their
Roman and later by their Byzantine persecutors. We will also
visit many churches that have been decorated with vivid
frescoes which have withstood the corrosive effects of time.
We check-in to our hotel for a night of relaxation. (B,L,D)
Day
14 - Ankara / Istanbul
We
start our return journey from Cappadocia early in the
morning and head towards Ankara. Ankara is the capital of
the Turkish Republic and its history extends back as far as
the 3rd century B.C. Here we will visit the Museum of
Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum of Atatürk
(1881-1938), founding father of the Turkish Republic. Return
flight to Istanbul. (B,L,D)
Day
15
Tranfer
and flight home. (B)
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