Smyrna & Bergama: Smyrna, “The Suffering Church” Bergama, “The Compromising Church”.

Izmir - Welcome to Izmir Airport. Our tour guide welcomes you at Izmir Airport, and then you move to Smyrna. The church of Smyrna suffered amid prosperity as it refused to be dedicated to the Roman Empire. It was the home of the great bishop of the second century, Polycarp, who was burned alive at the age of 86.

Pergamon Ancient City - After 1.20 minutes of driving from Izmir, We will arrive in Bergama. We will take a cable car to Pergamon Acropolis.
After Smyrna, we go to Bergama, with the Acropolis and the Great Theatre, the Altar of Zeus,

Red Basilica (Kizil Avlu) - This temple is one of the most significant Roman-era structures still surviving in the ancient Greek world, according to Wikipedia. It is quite impressive and has been the site of several different types of worship over the centuries, from the worship of Egyptian gods to Christianity, and is now the site of a tiny mosque in one of the surviving towers.

Asclepieion of Pergamon - Asklepion was the world’s first psychiatric hospital. It gained importance under the Romans in the 2nd century AD, but a sacred site existed here as early as the 4th century BC. People who came for treatment might receive herbal remedies, massage, mud and bathing treatments, the interpretation of dreams, and drink of water from the sacred spring on the premises. The holy spring has been found to have radioactive properties. You are welcome to use the water on any part of your body that ails you during your visit. Ancient patients to Asklepion included Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, Caracalla, and many gladiators who came here too. People who were critically ill were not admitted here. This was a place to heal those within the scope of healing. As a result, there is no graveyard on the site.

Thyatira, “The Adulterous Church”, Sardes, “The Dead Church”, Philadelphia, “The Faithful Church”

Akhisar - 08:00 Depart from Bergama: After breakfast at the Hotel at Bergama, we drive to Akhisar to visit Thyatira, which was once a busy trading center. One of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelations.
09:10 Arriva to Thyatira (Akhisar) was the center of the purple cloth trade during the first century AD and one of the apocalyptic churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The “Jezebel” of Revelation resided in this city. As a historical site, it is somewhat underwhelming though new excavations might provide some more exciting finds in the future. We will stay about 30 minutes in Thyatira. Then we will drive for one hour to Sardes.

Sardis (Sardes) - 10:40 Arrival to Sardes. Sardes served as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom. It was founded in 1300 BC and destroyed in 1200 AD. It is known as where the coin was first minted in history. It is said that the gold dust carried by the Paktolos Stream passing through the middle of the city contributes to enrichment. There are also shops, a bath, and the largest synagogue in the world. Imagine a Synagogue with 1000 people. The gymnasium is already fascinating. The Roman Road is a city waiting to get up more with its shops, baths, and toilets.
1km up to Sardes, the Temple of Artemis is standing. Alexander the Great commissioned this temple, one of the largest in antiquity. Only two columns remain, but their scrolled capitals are exquisite, and it is easy to imagine the temple in the past as a wealthy and beautiful expensive temple. Artemis temple has a church that shows people’s cultural & spiritual evolution. Then continue to drive to Philadelphia. It will take about one and a half hours.

Hierapolis & Pamukkale & Leodicia. “The Lukewarm Church”.

Hierapolis & Pamukkale - 08:00 Departure from Hotel: After breakfast, we drive up to the white terraces at Pamukkale.
10:10 arrival to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is in Aegean, Turkey, and it is also called the “Cotton Castle” because of the white cotton appearance of the mineral bath spas that abound the province, which is rich in calcium. Known as a “spa town” since the Roman era, tourists travel to Pamukkale to relax in the various spas’ warm, soothing, and therapeutic waters. Hierapolis, or “Holy City,” was evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. Also, the Apostle Philip lived and was buried here. What makes Hierapolis different from most places on Earth is that it is built on land, neither on water, but on limestone deposits above the mineral springs in the area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the ruins littered throughout the city, including the graveyard that houses the sarcophagi of important ancient figures like Marcus Aurelius. Depart from Pamukkale at about 11:30.

The ancient city of Laodicea - 11:20 arrival to Laodicea. You visit Laodicea, one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The seventh one is the Laodicea Church. For institutional archaeology, it is critical to detect, restore and protect the church, which dates back to the period of Constantine. Its many buildings include a stadium, baths, temples, a gymnasium, theatres, and a bouleuterion (Senate House). On the eastern side, the line of the ancient wall may be distinctly traced, with the remains of the Ephesus gate; there are streets traversing the town, flanked by colonnades and numerous pedestals. North of the city, towards the Lycus, are many coffins, with their covers lying near them, partly embedded in the ground, and all having been long since rifled. We will stay about 2 hrs in Laodicea.
At the end of the tour, we drive to Kusadasi, İt is 183 km far away, and it will take 3 hrs to drive to Kusadasi. Overnight and dinner in Kusadasi. 17:00 arrival at Kusadasi .

Ephesus & Virgin Mary House & St.John. “The Loveless Church”.

Ancient City of Ephesus - 08:00 Departure from Kusadasi. After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Selcuk town to visit Ephesus Ancient City.
08:30 arrival to Ephesus. Ephesus was the second-largest city in the Roman Empire over 250.000 people in the 1st BC. Ranking only behind Rome, it was the second-largest city in the world. Ephesus was also a harbor city. And this big city was built only with marble. Did you know Ephesus had the largest theater in the ancient world, with over 25.000 seats? Also see Goddess Nike, the Local pharmacy, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celsus (the third largest library), Marble Street, and Harbor Street. We will spend two and a half hours in Ephesus. Then we will drive to The House of the Virgin Mary. It will take about 20 minutes to go.

Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - 11:20 arrival to The House of the Virgin Mary. Our second place to visit is The House of the Virgin Mary, located on top of the Ephesus and 9 km away. The places where the Virgin Mary spent her last days and the Shrine of the Virgin Mary pleasure a wonderful atmosphere latent in the green. The Basilica of Saint John Basilica of St. John, as early as the 4th or 5th century, a Christian church was built over a simple grave, supposedly the tomb of St. John. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian built an impressive domed basilica to replace the earlier church.

The Basilica of Saint John - 12:20 arrival to the Basilica of St. John. The ruins of the Basilica of St. John are much less impressive, but the site has a unique power. The church stands near the ruins of the Temple of Artemis and forms a harmonious set of two critical religious icons, which are now in ruins. Ayasuluk Hill, where the basilica ruins are located, is a promontory overlooking the Selcuk district and the surrounding valley. The scattered stones and low walls only point to the large building that once stood here. 6. Built by the emperor Justinian in the century, it was once one of the largest and most influential churches in Christianity. The building was of great importance because it was believed that the body of the apostle John was buried there. But although there is no Biblical mention of John being here, early Church tradition strongly links the apostle to that city. Although the historical evidence for Paul’s presence in Ephesus is strong, John’s connection to the region is.

The Temple of Artemis - 13:00 arrival to The Temple of Artemis(Diana). The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was the best-known center of worship outside Delos. In Acts, Ephesian metalsmiths, feeling threatened by Paul’s preaching of the new faith, say, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” They rebel jealously to defend him, shouting. In Ionia, the “Lady of Ephesus,” a goddess identified by the Hellenes as Artemis, was the principal deity.
Artemis Temple kept its distinguished place throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods, hosting visitors from around the world on its vast lands and functioning as an international bank. Its status as a financial center became the reason for the invasion of the Goths in 623 AD, who pillaged and burnt it down. However, the temple’s actual destruction was after 400 AD, when its marble blocks were looted to be used in Christian churches.

• Private transportation with air conditioning
• Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
• English-speaking guide
• 4-day/3-night stay in 3 or 4-star hotels
• All-inclusive fees and taxes
• Exciting Cable Car ride
• Parking fees covered

• Gratuities for Guide and Driver

The land that is now Turkey was the location for many of the people and events in biblical history. Turkey is mentioned extensively in the Bible, especially in the book of Acts when it was known as Asia Minor, and by the names of its provinces such as Pamphylia, Derbe, Lystra, and Phrygia. Turkey was the birthplace of the apostle Paul. He was from Tarsus, which is in the shadow of the Taurus Mountains (Acts 9:11).
Turkey is also the location of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamos, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea.’

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.