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Greece and Turkey
flight to Istanbul, Today we depart on our transatlantic Turkey. (D.B.)
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival in Istanbul our professional tour escort will meet & assist us to our private deluxe motor coach for transfer to the hotel. Welcome reception and orientation. Time to unpack and rest. Tonight dinner at a local restaurant. (D.)
After buffet breakfast we begin touring of Istanbul, including; St. Sophia's - the master piece of Byzantine architecture, the Blue Mosque and its magnificent interior with blue tiles. Topkapi Palace to see the treasures of the Sultans, and the Hipppdrome, where chariot races took place during the Roman empire. Time to have lunch and browse the shops and the famous Grand Bazar, the largest and oldest covered market in the world. Dinner and overnight Istanbul. (B.D.)
After breakfast we transfer to the air¬port for the short flight to Izmir, proceeding on to ancient Smyrna, a mosaic of 50 centuries of civilization … sharing with Athens the longest history of any Mediterranean civilization. It was here that St. Polycarp, a disciple of St. John, met a martyr's death at the age of 92 in 155 AD. After hotel check in and lunch, we visit the Church of Smyrna, one of the famous Seven Churches of Asia Minor and tour the highlights of this ancient city including the one time European main square. Dinner and overnight Izmir. (B.L.D)
Today we visit Sardis, Philadelphia, and Pamukkale, one of the most picturesque areas. King Croesus of Sardis was the first to mint pure gold & silver coins here, guaranteed by the face value. In Sardis we will visit the temple, the beautiful Byzan¬tine church, and the Roman - era syna¬gogue. We continue on to Philadelphia where we will visit the great Basilica with some 11th century frescoes. We then visit Pamukkale - cotton castle - an apt description of the natural phenomenon of fantastic white limestone terraces. A fan¬tastic sight at sunset to see the necropolis and the great baths of Hierapolis. Overnight Pamukkale. (B.L.D.)
After breakfast we depart for Kusadasi. En route we will visit Laodicea which was at the crossroads between Sardis and Perge. We continue on to the beautifully excavat¬ed Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, with its near peffect stadium, theatre, and tem¬ple. Afternoon arrival in Kusadasi, a seaside resort town. Overnight Kusadasi. (B.D.)
Today a full day visit to Ephesus. St. Paul called it "the most beautiful city in all the world." The great library, the amphitheater where Paul addressed an angry pagan mob, the tower where St. Paul was imprisoned and wrote the letters to the Ephesians. It was here that in 431 AD the historic Third Ecumenical Council convened and declared Mary the Mother of Jesus, and where the Virgin Mary spent her final years between 37 and 48 AD with St. Paul. We will also visit the house of the Virgin Mary spectacu¬larly located above the ruins. It is believed that St. John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus, and that she spent the rest pf her days in this house on the hilltop. The home is visited by thousands of pilgrims each 1ear, and Pope John Paul II celebrated mass here and in the Church of the Virgin Mary. We also visit St. John’s Basilica, believed to have been built over the tomb of the apostle, and the temple of Diana ~ one of the seven wonders of the world. Return to Kusadasi for overnight. (B.L.D)
After breakfast we depart Kusadasi for the resort town of Bodrum. En route we will visit Priene, called the absolutely perfect place for a picnic! Here we visit the ancient and splendid amphitheater After lunch we continue down the Agean coast to visit the ancient city of Miletuis - the most prosperous city of the 6th century BC. Nearby we visit Didyma, site of the Temple of Apollo. Afternoon arrival in the seaside city of Bodrum, where the Castle of St. Peter, built by order of the Pope in 1402, guards the entrance to semi¬circular Bodrum Bay. Dinner and overnight Bodrum. (B.L.D.)
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for the flight to Istanbul. Arrival Istanbul and transfer to flight for Athens. Arrival Athens. After hotel check-in and lunch, we will visit some of the highlights of ancient Athens including the Pnyx, Acropolis and Parthenon. Tonight dinner at a typical Greek retaurant. Overnight Athens (B.D.)
Today we visit ancient Corinth. Time to explore the marketplace and Temple of Apollo, and the museum. Return to Athens. Tonight a farewell dinner with music and Greek dancing! (B.D.)
Full day cruise of the Greek Islands. Return to Athens. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight Athens. (B.L.)
Transfer to airport for flight to Istanbul. Free time to do some last minute souvenir shopping. Dinner and overnight Istanbul. (B,D)
Transfer to the airport for our return flight home.
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