“ IN THE TRAIL of ST. PAUL IN TURKEY ” WITH PATMOS ISLAND ( 13 Days / 12 Nights )

Day 1 – ISTANBUL / ADANA / ANTIOCH

Upon arrival to Istanbul, we continue to Adana with our
connected flight and drive straight to Tarsus, the birth place
of St. Paul. During St. Paul’s time Tarsus was a university city
surpassing Athens and Alexandria. Cicero was a governor
here in 51-50 BC. and the romantic meeting between
Cleopatra and Mark Anthony took place in Tarsus. Highlights
here will be St. Paul’s well and Cleopatra’s Gate. Drive to
Antioch at Orontes for a good night rest

Day 2 – ANTIOCH–ON-THE-ORONTES
Today we journey East to Antioch-on-the- Orontes, Daphne
and Seleucia Pieria. Antioch is thought to have been founded
in 300 BC. First to preach here was St. Peter followed by St.
Paul and Barnabas whose extensive efforts proved to be very
fruitful for Christianity. Incidentally, the word Christians was
first coined in Antioch. The strong and wealthy community of
Antioch contributed financially to the Christian community
of Jerusalem. Highlights include the museum which houses
a superb collection of mosaics from Antioch, Daphne and
Seleucia Pieria. St. Peter’s Grotto, the cave church came to be
known as the meeting place of the early Christians. The next
site we will visit is Seleucia Pieria which was the port city of
Antioch in ancient days. The most interesting monument
here is the Tunnel of Titus which is a tremendous canal dug
for the purpose of diverting waters of Orontes river. Another
highlight here will be the rock tombs with their impressive
facades pertaining to the Hellenistic period. Dinner and
overnight in Antioch.

Day 5 – CAPPADOCIA / KONYA

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and visit Pasabagi
in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock
cut rooms, Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where
Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders
leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw
material of pottery for centuries. Then drive to Konya, on
the way visit to the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece
Sultanhan Caravanserai. Dinner and overnight in Konya.

Day 6 – KONYA / PISIDIAN ANTIOCH / PAMUKKALE

After breakfast we will drive to Pisidian Antioch (Yalvac)
where St. Paul opened Christianity to the world. Yalvac’s
history goes back to 280 B.C. During St. Paul’s time the
population was a mixture of Jews, Romans and Greeks. Very
little is left of Pisidian Antioch today. There is the propylaea
of the acropolis with a number of carved stones and the
remains of a Byzantine church.
Than drive to Pamukkale. Upon arrival we visit Hierapolis
which was founded by Pergamon king Telephos and named
after his wife Hiera. During the Byzantine period the city
became the seat of diocese with a large Christian Church
dedicated to St. Philip, martyred here in 80 A.D. Highlights
include the Roman Baths, the Temple of Apollo and the
Theater.

Day 9 – KUSADASI / EPHESUS / IZMIR

After breakfast visit the famous city of Ephesus. Our tour
begin with the Basilica of St. John “the Evangelist” who came
here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel in Ephesus.
The Temple of Artemis, considered as on the Seven Wonders
of the World, was located here. St. Paul’s preachings in the
area resulted with the uproar of the Guild of Silversmiths
and eventually the whole population of Ephesus. Highlights
include the Library of Celcius, the Temple of Hadrian, the
Fountain of Trajan and the Theater. We will also stop by
the House of Virgin Mary closeby, where she is reputed to
have spent her last years and died. Followed by the famous
local carpet shows allowing ample time for shopping in the
afternoon, than drive to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – IZMIR / PERGAMUM / ASSOS

On our way to Assos this morning we will stop by hauntingly
beautiful Pergamum which rises high on a hill as one nears
the city of Bergama. Highlights will include the Altar of
Zeus, Temple of Trojan and the Theater. Coming down the
mountain we will stop by Asclepion, a leading health center
of the ancient world.

Day 12 – BURSA / (Iznik/Nicea) / ISTANBUL

After the breakfast, We leave Bursa to Nicea . The city was
founded around 1000 B.C. In 325, the First Ecumenical
Council was held here for the purpose of condemning the
heresy of Arianism. The Seventh Ecumenical Council was
also held here in the St. Sophia Church. The church was built
in the 4th century and has a mosaic floor which dates to the
6th century. All gates and walls date back from the Byzantine
times. In the late afternoon , we drive to the pier to embark
the Bosphorus Cruise Boat. A scenic journey along the
Bosphorus between two continents, Asia and Europe.
The hike takes about three hours: the first hour or so is uphill.
As we hike, our gulet sails around to meet us in a spectacular
cove which shelters the sunken baths of Cleopatra, built for
her by Mark Antony. Legend says that Antony gave Cleopatra
the entire Turquoise Coast as a wedding gift – a present fit for
a queen. This is another excellent place to swim, if you feel
so inclined. (B/L/D)