Seven Churches Tour

Day 1 (Smyrna, Pergamum, Asklepion) 

(Lunch) Upon your arrival at Izmir, meet your tour guide and upon driving to Izmir you’ll enjoy a panoramic ride of Smyrna. Izmir you’ll enjoy a panoramic ride of Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia. Then we drive to Bergama.  When we arrive to Bergama, first we will visit Asclepion, one of the first Hospitals in the world. We will be in the site about an hour and then if you want we can taste some local food of the area. After lunch we will drive to Pergamon, and spend about two hours in the site. You will have chance to see the Temple of Hadrian, the steepest Hollenistic theater, Zeus altar and the 2nd biggest library in ancient time. After the sightseeing we will drive to hotel. Overnight in Bergama.

Day 2  ( Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia) 

(Breakfast-Lunch) Today you’ll depart early in the morning to Thyatira, now called Akhisar. There you’ll see the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Then we continue to Sardis where you’ll visit the great temple which became a Byzantine Church later. You will also visit the restored gymnasium and the Synagogue. Then next journey to Philadelphia. There you’ll see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of bricks, with a bit of high arch and some 11th-century frescoes. Then we drive to Pamukkale and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 3 (Hierapolis, Laodicea) 26.09.2019

(Breakfast-Lunch) After breakfast we start to tour with healing city of Hierapolis where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools. There you’ll visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip. Then in Laodicea, you can walk the ancient streets of the city and see the ancient structures. After tour we drive to Kusadasi where most beautiful hourbour city of Turkey. Overnight in Kusadasi.  

Day 4 (Ephesus , Virgin Mary House, Temple of Artemis) 

(Breakfast-Lunch) Drive to Ephesus and visit the ancient city of Ephesus. There you walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings such as the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre. Later we drive to the House of Virgin Mary where she spent her last days and the assumption took place. After that, you visit the Basilica of St. John and Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. After tour we drive to Izmir Airport to flight Cappadocia. After arrival to Cappadocia you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.  

Day 4 (Cappadocia)

(Breakfast-Lunch) Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before starting your full day Cappadocia RED tour. You will be picked up from your hotel at 9:45 am. Start the day visiting Devrent Valley, also known as “Imagination Valley”, this is the most surreal-looking landscape. Your next stop will be Pashabagi also called the Monks Valley because Christian hermits chose to locate hermit cells and churches in these three-headed pinnacles symbolic of the Holy Trinity, it is possible to see all the stages in the formation of fairy chimneys at this spot. Proceed to Avanos (Venessa) the pottery centre of Cappadocia, this village is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak/Red River. The river gets its name from the red clay it deposits. You can watch the potters at work using kick wheels, the technique which has remained unchanged for generations. You will have lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Goreme Open Air Museum. The world’s most important Byzantine cave churches are found in these once remote valleys where monks and nuns pursued monastic life from the 3rd century on. Here you can see the best preserved Byzantine cave wall paintings and frescos from the Iconoclastic period through to the end of Seljuk rule. Icons with scenes from the Old Testament and the New Testament above portraits of Church Fathers and saints depict the structure of the Byzantine universe. Panoramic view point Esentepe. With a spectacular view over Goreme, see the complete view of Goreme valley and Goreme village: fairy chimneys, rock formations and cave houses. End your day with Uchisar Castle. This tall rock, the highest point of the Goreme region. After the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

Day 5 (Flight to Istanbul – End of the Tour)

(Breakfast) Today is the end of the tour, According your flight time meet with your driver at the hotel and drive to Cappadocia Airport.