On the Step of St. Paul
14 Days / 11 Nights
Turkey is considered as the cradle of Christianity with Cappadocia and the countless Churches, Izmir and the house of the blessed virgin.
We propose you across those different programs to discover all those wonderful sites rich of 2000 years of History. All those edifice and painting well preserved will help you to get another vision and understand the evolution of Christians all along those different periods that stamp this country.
Day 1: Ankara
“Welcome to Turkey”, “Hos Geldiniz”. The capital city of Modern Turkey. Meet at the airport after clearing passport control, and transfer to your hotel. Before dinner, a “Welcome Briefing”.
Day 2: Ankara – Cappadocia
In the morning, a city tour of Ankara. First, visit the TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS, built by the Galatian King Pylamenes in 10 AD. The Galatians were a Celtic race who were the first to make Ankara their capital (3rd century BC).
Day 3: Cappadocia
Full day exploring CAPPADOCIA, the land of saints and early Christians..
Day 4: Cappadocia – Tarsus – Adana
In the morning drive to TARSUS, visiting ESKI GUMUS MONASTERY on the way, one of the finest in Cappadocia. Drive over the beautiful Taurus Mountains.
Day 5: Adana – Antakya – Seleucia – Adana
In the morning, drive to the Biblical city of Antioch. This city was the headquarters of St. Paul’s Missionary Journeys. It was the third largest city of the Roman Empire rivaled only by Rome and Alexandria. St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Barnabas and St. Timothy all preached here. The New Testament Book of Acts of the Apostles specifically declares that Jesus’ followers were first called Christians here.
Day 6: Adana – Konya
In the morning, drive to Konya via Karapinar. On the way, visit the most scenic natural monument Meke Crater Lake.
Day 7: Konya – Pisidian Antioch – Pamukkale
Drive to PSIDIAN ANTIOCH in the morning. It was here that St. Paul changed world history by opening Christianity to the pagan world.
Day 8: Pamukkale – Izmir
Morning visit to PAMUKKALE once known as the ancient Roman thermal city of HIERAPOLIS. The Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle is here.
Day 9: Izmir – Ephesus – Izmir
Tour of IZMIR, the ‘’Pearl of the Aegean’’. Visit the church of St. Policarp, the oldest church in ancient SYMIRNA. It symbolized the community of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.
Day 10: Izmir – Akhisar – Bursa
In themorning, drive to Akhisar via Manisa, ancient THYATIRA. Visit the church of Thyatira then drive to Bursa, first capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Day 11: Bursa – Iznik – Istanbul
In the morning, visit the lovely Green Mosque and Mausoleum and the Grand Mosque then drive to Iznik, ancient NICAEA, via the beautiful Iznik Lake road.
Day 12: Istanbul
A full day of sightseeing in Istanbul, first St. SOPHIA MUESUM, built by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels of all time and a designated World Heritage site.
Day 13: Istanbul
In the morning, first visit the impressive DOLMABAHCE PALACE on the Bosphorus. Witness thegrandeur of the centuries old palace where Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkey, died.
Day 14: Istanbul-End