Footsteps of Saint Paul in Turkey and Greece

Upon arrival to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport, we will meet our guide in the arrivals hall and head to our hotel located near Taksim Square, the bustling heart of modern Istanbul. Today, we can have a few free hours to explore Istanbul. There are quite a few self-paying options (listed below) we can choose from. The prices for these optional activities are subject to change without notice. Dinner and Overnight in Istanbul.

Free Time – suggested SELF-PAYING activities in Istanbul by walking or a taxi.

Istiklal Street

Located in the historic Beyoğlu (Pera) district, Istiklal is a 1.4 km-long pedestrian avenue flanked by boutiques, music stores, bookstores, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries, cafés, pubs, live music venues, and historical patisseries, chocolatiers and restaurants. While shopping, you can appreciate the late Ottoman era buildings (mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries) that were designed with the Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance Revival, Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau and First Turkish National Architecture styles; as well as a few Art Deco style buildings from the early years of the Turkish Republic.

Pera Museum

It is housed in the former Bristol Hotel, a beautifully-restored building that was designed and built by architect Achille Manoussos in 1893. The museum has three permanent collections: Orientalist Painting, Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics, and Anatolian Weights and Measures. And the museum frequently hosts excellent temporary exhibitions, such as its Botero and Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera shows.

http://www.peramuzesi.org.tr Visiting Hours as followings:

• Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 19:00
• Sunday, 12:00 – 18:00
• Mondays, closed.

Pera Museum is open and free of admissions from 18:00 to 22:00 every Friday.

Then, go have a drink at the historic Pera Palace Hotel! It was built in 1892 for the purpose of hosting the passengers of the Orient Express and holds the title of "the oldest European hotel of Turkey". Plus, detective writer Agatha Christie's 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express was written here and the hotel maintains Christie's room as a memorial to the author.

***The hotel is walking distance from Taksim and is in a beautiful neighborhood with great dining and nightlife.

Galata Tower

This nine-story tower cylindrical tower with its conical cap rises high above all other buildings on the east bank of the Golden Horn and provides a magnificent 360 degree view of Istanbul. The original tower was built in 1348 and called the Tower of Christ (Christea Turris). As the highest part of the fortifications surrounding the Genoese citadel of Galata, the tower served as a watchtower.

Open daily from 09:00 – 20:00

Admission Fee: 25.00 TL

Here, you can climb up the tower for a panoramic view of the Golden Horn and enjoy a lunch nearby….I think Kivahan has great food (http://galatakivahan.com). And around the tower, there are beautiful cafes and boutiques selling decorative items, Turkish bath towels, ceramics, or clothes and jewelry made by local designers. It is a really quaint area that is perfect for exploring!

Dolmabahce Palace

It is the largest palace in Turkey constructed in the mid-19^th century when Sultan Abdülmecid I wanted more modern amenities than Topkapi housed. Here, you can see its famous Crystal Staircase that is in the shape of a double horseshoe and is built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany. Elements like this reflect a fusion of Baroque, Roccoco, and Neoclassical styles indicative of the growing European influence that came with the Tanzimat Reforms.

Closed: Mondays and Thursdays

Visiting Hours: 9:00 – 16:00

Admission Fee:

• Selamlik – 60.00 TL
• Harem – 30.00 TL
• Joint Ticket – 90.00 TL

Ortaköy

Explore this former fishing village which sits on the Bosphorus! In this now artsy neighborhood that has become famous for the Turkish street food kumpir (loaded baked potato), there are many quaint cafés, idyllic views, and the beautiful neo-Baroque mosque that sits by the river.

Enjoy a Turkish Hamam Experience!

Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı was constructed in between 1578-1583 to serve the levends (marine forces in the Ottoman navy). Famous for its architectural lines and majestic dome, the Hamam is one of the symbolic buildings in Tophane, Istanbul’s harbor district. It was closed for seven years, undergoing meticulous and intensive restoration. Here, you can enjoy the traditional Hamam ritual!

http://kilicalipasahamami.com/ (Close to Dolmabahce Palace)

Hamam Ritual:

Women-only hours: 8:00 – 16:00; last reservation – 14:30

Men-only hours: 16:30 – 23:30; last reservation – 22:30 pm

*It is very important to make a reservation! Feel free to go to another Hamam of your choice.

Eat amazing baklava at Güllüoğlu in Karaköy!

Located a stone’s throw from the Bosphorus, this famous baklava emporium has been catering to Istanbul sweet tooth’s since 1949, serving more than a dozen different kinds of phyllo-based sweets!

http://www.karakoygulluoglu.com/en

Hours: Week-days, 07:00 – 23:00; Weekends, 08:00 – 23:50

Right next to Güllüoğlu is Koska, where you can buy delicious Turkish delight and other sweet treats to take back home.

Then, take some time to walk around Karakoy…it has beautiful cafes and boutiques and great restaurants:

Lokanta Maya http://www.lokantamaya.com/  (a great modern approach to Turkish cuisine)

Karakoy Lokantasi http://www.karakoylokantasi.com/ (beautiful interior and delicious traditional Turkish food)

Tarihi Karakoy Balikcisi http://www.tarihikarakoybalikcisi.com/  (a very popular fish restaurant with an unassuming façade)

The Military Museum

Features a range of exhibitions documenting Turkish and Ottoman military history. Moreover, you can watch a traditional “Mehteran” (Ottoman military band) ceremony. Mehteran have accompanied Turkish armies to every war since the birth of the first Turkish state.

Visiting Hours: 09:00 – 17:00; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

*But the Mehteran ceremony only takes place from 15:00 – 16:00 daily.

Things to buy:

In addition to Baklava from Güllüoğlu and Turkish delight from Koşka, you can buy scarves, spices, nuts, Turkish coffee, ceramics, and evil eyes from the bazaars. Or pick up some famous Turkish Bath Towels! They are made from 100 percent Turkish cotton and come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can even buy certified organic Turkish bath towels from Jennifer’s Hamam in the Arasta bazaar near Sultanahmet square.

After enjoying our Turkish breakfast, we will depart from our hotel and begin our tour of the historical highlights of Istanbul. First, we will stroll through Hippodrome Square, the former sporting and social center of Constantinople that hosted chariot races during the Roman period. Afterwards, we are off to witness the incredible majesty and splendor of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Popularly known as the Blue Mosque, this 17th century Ottoman sanctuary is adorned with six minarets and more than 20,000 hand-painted Iznik tiles. And then we will walk directly across from the mosque to visit the domed masterpiece of the Hagia Sophia before we head to Topkapi Palace. Located on the very cape of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, Topkapi Palace is the former abode of Ottoman Sultans that still houses their legion of treasures, including an extensive collection of royal jewels. Then, we will end our day with an evening of shopping at the Grand Bazaar, the massive covered market that houses a labyrinth of streets lined with shops selling jewelry, leather products and many other handcrafted souvenirs. Dinner and Overnight in Istanbul.

• The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays.

This morning, we will meet in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport for our short domestic flight to the city of Antakya (Antioch), an important seat of early Christianity. Here, we will visit the Mosaic Museum to see the second largest collection of classical and Roman mosaics in the world. Afterwards, we will head to one of the oldest churches in Christianity, the Church of St. Peter. This church is actually a cave carved into the side of Mount Starius where many believe the first Christians worshipped. Afterwards, we drive on to Adana. Dinner and Overnight in Adana.

The local travel agency can book the domestic flight(20 kg for luggage and 8 kg for carry on). There are strict terms and conditions from the local airlines, therefore to secure the seats and a good price, full amount of nonrefundable local airfare (around $60 USD per person and subject to change from the airlines) is requested on time of booking.

After breakfast, we will drive to the dusty provincial town of Tarsus. Once the capital of the province of Cilicia, Tarsus was the site where Mark Antony and Cleopatra first met, and is the birthplace of Paul the Apostle. According to Acts, Paul was born “Saul of Tarsus” but was brought up in Jerusalem and became “Paul the Apostle” after his encounter with Christ (Acts 9:11; 21:39; 22:3). Here, we will visit the Well of St. Paul and the Gate of Cleopatra. Next, we are off to the town of Karaman to visit the largely unexcavated site of Derbe, a town Paul the Apostle visited on his missionary journeys with Saint Barnabas. Afterwards, we travel to Konya via Aksaray along the Silk Road. First, we reach ancient Iconium, where Paul the Apostle and Saint Barnabas invested a lot of their missionary efforts preaching the Gospel despite persecution from the community. According to Acts, they spoke boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders (Acts 14:1-3). Then, we will head to Konya’s city center and visit the Mevlana Museum, which houses the tomb of the great 13th-century Persian poet and founder of the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī. Popularly known as Rumi in Western countries, meaning “Roman” in Arabic, his followers and Muslims alike call him “Mevlana”, meaning “our master. Dinner and Overnight in Konya.

Today, we drive south of Konya to ancient Lystra where Paul the Apostle preached the gospel after persecution drove him from Iconium. Afterwards, we will continue on to Yalvac to visit the remains of the ancient city of Antioch in Pisidia. Located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Central Anatolian regions, Antioch in Pisidia was a capital city for many different cultures, and was an important site of early Christianity in Anatolia. Here, Paul the Apostle gave his first sermon to the Gentiles and visited the city on each of his missionary journeys (Acts 13:13–52). We will then drive to Pamukkale and check into our thermal spa hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Pamukkale.

This morning, we will visit Pamukkale, “Cotton Castle”, and dip our feet in the thermal waters that flow down the hilltop’s unique white travertine terraces. Here, we will also see the archeological remains of Hierapolis, a significant site of early Christianity thanks to Paul’s missionary efforts here (Colossians 4:13). Because the city sits atop the travertine cascades of Pamukkale (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Hierapolis became a healing center wherein the site’s thermal pools were used to treat various ailments. While exploring, we will pass a number of important ruins including well-preserved Roman structures like the town theatre and Temple of Apollo before continuing on to Laodicea. This city was one of the Seven Churches that the Apostle John chastised the inhabitants for being lukewarm (Rev. 3:14-22). Here, we will see the site’s well preserved stadium, gymnasium, and theatres, giving us insight into this city’s former prominence. Afterwards, we will head to the modern town of Alasehir and visit the site of ancient Philadelphia, the church which received God's highest commendation (Rev. 3:7-13). Next, we will explore Sardis, a powerful ancient city located along an important highway and among the fertile plain of Hermus (Geldiz River). Though Sardis was a strong and wealthy city with a reputation for being alive, God announced that it was actually dead (Rev. 3:1-6). Here, we will explore the white marble royal way, the massive Temple of Artemis, the large gymnasium, and the famous synagogue. Annual archaeological expeditions sponsored by Harvard and Cornell Universities have unearthed over eighty Greek and seven Hebrew inscriptions as well as numerous mosaic floors revealing this synagogue as one of the most significant synagogues of antiquity. We will then drive on to Izmir, Turkey’s third most populous city. Dinner and Overnight in Izmir.

This morning, we will visit the archaeological remains of the ancient city of Smyrna. Smyrna was one of the Seven Churches that the Apostle John relays the promise from God: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). Here, we will see what remains of the Agora, the ancient market place that was built in the 4th century BC to the north of Pagos (Kadifekale). Afterwards, we are off to explore the famous Ephesus! Located in the modern town of Selcuk, ancient Ephesus is one of the most well-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. Originally an ancient Greek Ionic city built in the 10th century B.C., Ephesus grew to become the largest metropolis and capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. This political influence and the city’s large Jewish community attracted the attention of the apostles, including Paul. Here, he carried out his mission for two years and was Bishop of the Ephesian Church before he was exiled to Patmos. Today, we will walk on the Marble Road passing numerous historically rich sites including the Temple of Artemis (Diana), the fountain of Trajan, and the Temple of Hadrian. We will also see the Library of Celsus, which adorns the site’s most impressive square, and sit in the theater (the largest surviving from the Roman period). This massive theatre (capable of entertaining up to 25,000 spectators) was the scene of an uprising provoked by a merchant named Demetrius against St. Paul and his teachings (Acts 19:23). Nearby are the ruins of St. John’s Basilica. Constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century, this basilica stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. Before returning to our Izmir hotel, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary to see where the mother of Jesus is believed to have spent the last days of her life with the Apostle John. Dinner and Overnight in Izmir.

After breakfast, we will drive to Akhisar and begin our day with a visit to Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches praised for its increasing faith but admonished for its tolerance of Jezebel (Rev. 2:18-28).  Bergama (Pergamum), home to the invention of parchment and the church that John both affirmed and chastised (Rev. 2:12-17). Afterwards, we drive to the town of Bergama to visit Pergamum, one of the most powerful cities in the ancient world. The city rose to prominence following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. and eventually came under Roman control in 133 B.C. Although this city benefited from immense wealth, in the Book of Revelations, the risen Christ instructs John to convey the message that the people of Pergamum, the site of “Satan’s throne”, needed to repent (Rev 2:13-16). Today, we will tour the Acropolis which sits atop a 1000-foot windswept mountain, offering a view of the neighboring modern towns, the azure waters of the Aegean, and the ruins of Pergamum that cascade down from the ancient city center. Here, we will explore the Temple of Trajan, Temple of Athena and the Altar of Zeus. Unfortunately, little is left of the altar, which was once among the grandest monuments of the ancient world. In fact, every stone of the structure, including its 400-foot long frieze depicting the battle of the gods and giants, was shipped off to Berlin by German archaeologists leaving only the altar’s foundation. Thankfully, much more remains of the Great Theatre. Among the steepest of its kind and an acoustic phenomenon, this theatre could entertain up to 10,000 spectators. Nearby are the remains of the famous Library of Pergamum. Once housing some 200,000 scrolls, the library’s collection even exceeded that of the great library of Alexandria before Mark Anthony gave it to Cleopatra as a wedding gift. Next, we visit Alexandria Troas. A significant port town in Roman times, Paul the Apostle sailed for Europe for the first time from here. Transfer to our Canakkale hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Canakkale.

Today, we bid farewell to Turkey and cross into Greece. On the other side of the border, we will meet our Greek guide and bus and drive to Kavala, the ancient site of Neapolis. Dinner and Overnight in Kavala.

After breakfast, we will follow the ancient highway of Via Ignatia to reach Philippi." And from there (He went) to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman Colony. We remained in this city some days..." Acts 16:12. Although Philippi lays in ruins, the forsaken city has a rich history. Named after Philip II of Macedonia, Philippi witnessed Paul’s first Christian converts on European soil. Exploring the site, we will see an old section of the Via Ignatia, St. Paul’s prison, and the archeological museum. After Philippi’s visit, we will continue to Lydia where we will visit the harbor which saw Paul’s first encounter with Greece. Continue to Thessaloniki. Dinner and Overnight in Thessaloniki.

This morning, we will visit the city where Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles. We will see the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting at the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire. Then, we continue to Veria (Borea) to stop at the Bema where St. Paul had stopped and preached. Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport to fly to Athens where we will meet our guide and driver and head to the city where we will have an orientation tour before reaching our hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Athens.

The local travel agency can book the domestic flight (23 kg for luggage and 8 kg for carry on). There are strict terms and conditions from the local airlines, therefore to secure the seats and a good price, full amount of nonrefundable local airfare (around €110 EURO per person and subject to change from the airlines) is requested on time of booking.

After breakfast we will have short drive to Corinth to visit Ancient Corinth. Here, under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write, at least, four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of the first century shops, the agora where Paul's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the Bema. We will have a stop at the handmade Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean and the Ionian Seas .Return to Athens. Dinner and Overnight in Athens.

After breakfast, we will depart our hotel to explore Athens! First, we will see the Parthenon, the Erectheum and the Propylae. Afterwards, we will ascend Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians about the one and only God. From here, we have an excellent view of the ancient agora; the former center of Athenian public life. We will then continue for a drive through the city to see the House of Parliament on Syntagma Square, the evzones in their picturesque uniforms guarding the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We also see the Library, the University, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympics of the modern era were held, the temple of the Olympian Zeus, and Adrian’s Arch. We will have some free time in the ancient portion of Athens “Plaka area” before transfer to the airport for our flight home with our unique memories.

Bookings must be made 150 days before the departure date due to high demands. A non-refundable deposit of $200 USD for Turkey portion and €400 EURO for Greek portion is required when booking is made. The deposit is to secure accommodation and air flight bookings.

Full payment must be made 60 days before departure.

All cancellations should be in writing after the booking. The deposit will be forfeited if cancellations made 60 days before the departure date. The full tour payment will be forfeited if cancellations made within 60 days before the departure date due to the pricings applied to the group sizes. (Because heavy penalties imposed by hotels and any change of the group sizes may affect the price for the whole group and possibly the one free person for every 20 people.)