7 Churces Of Asia Minor

We will start the morning by exploring the interesting sites

preserved in Ancient Smyrna (1/7)

Ancient Ephesus was St. Paul’s headquarters for some time.

Apart from the extensive Hellenistic remains, there is the

church in which the Council of Ephesus was held in AD 431.

After lunch there will be time to see the so-called House

of the Virgin Mary and Asayaluk Hill where the

emperor Constantine built a huge church dedicated to St.

John the Evangelist. John lived in that region and had

jurisdiction over the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in

the Apocalypse (2/7). We return to our hotel in Kusadasi

in time for dinner and overnight.

Leaving Kusadasi we drive to Sardis (3/7), the main

feature of which is the once celebrated Temple of

Artemis built by King Croesus. Afterwards we visit

another of the Seven Churches, Philadelphia (4/7). En

route to Pamukkale we call at Laodicia (5/7). We arrive in

Pamukkale in time for dinner and overnight stay

After breakfast in Pammukale we will visit the travertines,

white terraced pools formed by the calcium-rich mineral

waters. Then we drive to Thyatira (6/7) to see what

remains of the ancient city. We continue to Pergamon,

spectacularly situated on a steep mountain spur, and the

Acropolis (7/7) and the subterranean Asclepion, the

ancient medical centre. We continue to Assos.

We’ll proceed to Alexandria Troya on the track of one of

St. Paul’s trips. Discover Troy antique city immortalized in

the Iliad of Homer. Continue to Bursa which was the first

capital of the Ottoman Empire and visit the Grand Mosque

and Silk Bazaar.

Nicea is the city where one of the Eucumenical Councils took

place; explore the remains of Saint Sophia church, roman

city walls and enjoy a lunch by Iznik Lake. In the afternoon,

take the car ferry to cross Izmit Bay and arrive in Istanbul.

We take a cruise along the Asian and European coasts

of the Bosphorus which not only affords lovely views of

Istanbul from the sea but also enables us to see the many

Turkish-style historic houses along the shore. We visit

Saint Saviour in Chora, a small church containing

some of the most stunning Byzantine mosaics in

existence.

We hope you will capture many memories and Have a

safe return!