SEVEN CHURCHES TOUR

You will meet with your private guide at the İzmir airport or the lobby of your hotel in İzmir or Kuşadası and depart on a 1,5-hour drive from İzmir to Pergamon, which was a great center of culture and the Capital of the East Roman Empire. At the Acropolis, there are numerous remains including the celebrated Library, the steepest theatre of Anatolia, the Temples of Trojan and Dionysos, the place of the monumental Altar of Zeus, famous for its relief of God and devils, the Sanctuary of Demeter, the Gymnasium situated on terraces and the lower Agora. After a lunch of local specialties, you will proceed to the Medical Center of the ancient World, Asclepion, where the first psychological treatment was used, and which was dedicated to Asclepios, the God of Health. Your next visit will be to the Red Basilica (St. Johris Church). Then we continue our visit to Thyatira, now called Akhisar, another one of the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Afterward, you will drive and check in to your hotel in Kuşadasi.

After breakfast, depart fort he site of Ephesus, the premiere Greco-Roman City of the ancient World. During your tour, you will explore the Temple of Hadrian, Domitian's temple, Hercules gate, the famous Celsus Library, Great theatre and more. The next stop is the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. At lunchtime, you will be able to sample some more traditional Turkish food. Your last visit will be to the Basilica of St. John (St.Jean Anita), which stands over the believed burial site of St. John. Afterward, we drive around 2,5 hours to Pamukkale where you will check in to your Hotel.

Driving Distance: Around 300km

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel and drive to Laodicea. Situated at the crossroads of ancient trade routes and having produced black wool that was highly sought after, under Roman dominion, Laodicea was one of the most successful commercial cities of its time in Asia Minör and was also well known for its medical school. We know from the late 1st century writing of Josephus that there was likely a large Jewish population in the city and, from his letter to the people of nearby Colossae, that Paul was concerned also with the people in Laodicea as well their neighbors in Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13,15,16), Water was supplied to the city from a hot springs about 4 miles away through an aqueduct that you will see ruins of today, along with others including walls and temples, the stadium, gymnasium, and theaters. From Laodicea, it is a 15-minute drive to the North Gate of Pamukkale (Hierapolis). During our tour of the site, you will see the Necropolis (cemetery) of Hierapolis, which is one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with 1200 graves, Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, and the Main Street, Byzantium Gate. Then, you walk to the natural warm water terraces, which were formed by running warm water that contains calcium. The temperature of the water is about 35. You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale (cotton castle). You will have some free time to swim with antiquities in the Cleopatra Ancient Pool (entrance fee is extra), which is warmed by hot springs and contains ruins of ancient marble columns. We depart Pamukkale and drive to Alaşehir where the ancient Philadelphia Church is located. We then continue to Sardes, ancient Capital city of the Lydians and visit the Church of Sardes. Afterward, we will drop you back to your hotel in Pamukkale or transfer to Denizli airport. End of the Services.

With Departure From   : Kuşadası/Selçuk

Availability                     :Private tour all year round

Guiding Languages :English - For other guiding languages, it will be taken extra charge.