IN THE STEPS OF ST. PAUL
(MODIFIED I - 9 NIGHTS / 10 DAYS)

Day 1 : ISTANBUL
Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer to hotel. Rest of the day and evening at leisure.

Day 2 : ISTANBUL
Full day sightseeing in Istanbul in the old quarters of the city; Church of Chora famed with Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, Hagia Sophia, Church built by the emperor Justinian in the sixth century. Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome where chariot races were held in Roman times. Tour the Topkapi Palace museum with its priceless jewelled objects and the Porcelain Collection. Shopping in the Grand Bazaar.

Day 3: ISTANBUL - ANTALYA
Morning, cruise along the shores of the Bosphorus by boat, then cross the Bosphorus Bridge to Asian Istanbul for a visit to Beylerbeyi Palace, summer palace. Transfer to airport for flight to Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 4: ANTALYA
Antalya, Attalia the port for St. Paul on his first journey to Lystra and Derbe. Paul had sailed from Attalia to Antakya, Antioch. Drive along the Turkish Mediteranean coast to Perge where Paul stopped on his way to Pisidian Antioch with barnabas and Mark.Continue to Side and Aspendos with a majestic amphitheatre. Return to Antalya for overnight.

Day 5: ANTALYA - PAMUKKALE
Drive to Pamukkale to visit the ruins of Hierapolis, celebraated for its warm baths. St. Philip is burried at Hierapolis. Then drive to Laodicea to see the remains of one of the Seven Churches. Loadicea Church was a branch of Ephesus, as were the churches of Hierapolis and Colossea. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale.

Day 6: PAMUKKALE - IZMIR
Morning drive to Miletos, with one of the largest amphitheatres in Asia Minor. It was in Miletos that Paul stopped at the end of his third journey and predicted his imprisonment. Afternoon visit the city of Ephesus where St. John was burried aand mary spent her last days. The Church of the Virgin Mary built in the early days of Christianity, was the seat for the Council of Ephesus. Drive to Izmir, Smyrna and overnight.

Day 7 : IZMIR
Morning visit Sardes the capital of Lydia where King Croesus ruled. Visit the gymnasium and the Temple of Artemis. Later drive to Alasehir, Philadelphia. In the city of "brotherly love" see the ancient city wall. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Day 8: IZMIR - CANAKKALE
Morning drive to Akhisar, Thyatira. The church at Thyatira had tolerated the works of Jezebel. Continue on to Pergamum to visit the Acropolis of Helenistic Pergamum. Among its buildings are the Altar of Zeus and the temples of Trajan & Dionysus. After visiting the Asclepion, the earliest health center of Asia Minor. Continue on to Canakkale for the night.

Day 9: CANAKKALE
Morning visit the site of Troy, the homeric city and the local museum. Drive to Troas from where Paul set sail to Neapolis on his second journey. Later visit Assos where Paul rejoined his companions. Dinner and overnight at Canakkale.

Day 10: CANAKKALE - GREEK BORDER
Early morning departure to cross the Dardenelles by ferry. Drive through the first world war battle fields of Gallipoli and reach the Turkish/Greek border. Transfer to a Greek motorcoach to continue the journey.

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