VIRGIN MARY IN TURKEY Double occupancy $ 945.00 (Code: ) Single occupancy $ 1,195.00 (Code: ) Available from April 01 to October 31 for Group of 2-3 Persons. Discount for Large Groups. Includes 8 Days / 7 nights hotel accommodation in 4 stars hotels, all meals, air-conditioned bus, English or Spanish-speaking guide, baggage handling at hotels, entrance fees of the museums, Bosphorus cruise, service charge and V. A. Tax. ITINERARY Day 1: ISTANBUL / ARRIVAL. Arrival at Istanbul, Ataturk Airport. Meet our representative and transfer to the hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight. Day 2: ISTANBUL / FULL DAY CITY TOUR. Full-day tour of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles and unique six minarets built in the name of Sultan Ahmet I. Next we will have a look at the Hippodrome of Constantinople where horse and chariot races used to take place. Then visit the St. Sophia museum, which is one of the greatest religious and architectural marvels of all times. Finally the famous Topkaps Palace museum will be visited, which was built as the home of the Ottoman sultans. We then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 3: ISTANBUL / TROY / CANAKKALE. After an early breakfast, we will begin our scenic drive down to Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles during WWI. Following a lunch break, we will cross the second strategic waterway, the Dardanelles, land in Asia and proceed to Troy. Referred to in Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey", Troy has is fact nine cities superimposed one upon another. Troy VI pertains to the famous Trojan War of Homer where the legendary heroes included Agamemnon, Archilles, 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 dinner and overnight. Day 4: CANAKKALE / PERGAMUM / KUSADASI. After breakfast we drive to Izmir this morning and stop by 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-volumes 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. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. Day 5: KUSADASI / EPHESUS / HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY / PAMUKKALE. We will visit the famous city of Ephesus. Our tour will 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 one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was located here. Ephesus as you will see, is in very good state of preservation and the overall existing view of this ancient city will make obvious that it was a wealthy cultural and commercial center in the past. St. Paul's preachings in the area resulted with the uproar of the Guild of Silversmiths and eventually of the whole population of Ephesus. Highlights include the Library of Celcius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, the Brothel and the Theater. We will also visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her last years and died. You will be able to collect some holy water from the Sacred Spring. Then we drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. Day 6: PAMUKKALE - HIERAPOLIS / PHILADELPHIS / SARDES / THYATIRA / BURSA. In the morning we will visit Hierapolis. Most likely, the very large Jewish element in this city was an important factor in the rapid expansion of Christianity. 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. Departure to Bursa, visiting en route three of the Seven Churches: Philadelphia, Sardes and Thyatira. Overnight in Bursa. Day 7: BURSA / IZNIK / ISTANBUL. After the breakfast, we will visit the Yesil Cami (Green Mosque) and the Yesil Turbe (Green Tomb). The Ulu Mosque is completely Selcuk in style, a large forest of supporting columns inside. After a stop at the Ottoman House Museum, we leave Bursa behind us and drive 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 counscil was also held here in the St. Sophia Church, which we will visit first. The church was built in the 4th century and has a mosaic floor which dates to the 6th century. All gates and walls date from the Byzantine times. We proceed to Istanbul and check into our hotel Day 8: ISTANBUL DEPARTURE. Bosphorus cruise between 2 continents Europe & Asia. Transfer to the airport for homeward flight. Hotels to be used:
Istanbul: The Madison or similar hotel ( 4 star)
Canakkale: Akol or similar hotel ( 4 star)
Kusadasi: Pine Marina or similar hotel ( 4 star)
Pamukkale: Lycus River or similar ( 4 star)
Bursa: Almira hotel or similar ( 5 star) *** In the last day of the trip (8th day) after Bosphorus cruise no lunch or dinner is included.
*** All drinks with meals, Tips to your drivers/guides and Personal expenses are not included Top | 
