Guided Art and Architecture Tour in Turkey

ART & ARCHITECTURE GALORE

10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS

Many civilizations have come and gone and left vast amounts of art and architectural treasures in Turkey. Our special tour takes you to many of these marvels. Also you see Mother Nature's one of a kind art meshed with history. As a bonus we include Miletus, settled 3,000 years ago, and compare its city plan to Manhattan. So get ready for an overwhelming journey into thousands of years of art and architecture.

Day 1 Arrival in ISTANBUL We welcome you at the airport, transfer you to your hotel and give an orientation.

Saint Sophia Interior Day 2 ISTANBUL - Today we start our journey at the fabulous six minaret Blue Mosque built in 1616 with its exceptional Iznik tiles and stained glass. Adjacent is the site of the Hippodrome with Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Willhelm II. Next we stroll to admire the majestic Saint Sophia with its Byzantine mosaics, built in 535. Afterwards we tour the Ottoman Empire's Topkapi Palace, walk through its rooms full of exquisite art and view its priceless treasures. Finally we visit the dazzling Grand Bazaar which houses many artisans and is a shopper's paradise with over 4,000 shops selling precious handmade rugs, jewelry, leather goods, souvenirs, etc. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)

Day 3 ISTANBUL - ANKARA - HITTITE SITES (BOGAZKOY - ALACAHOYUK) - Transfer to airport, fly to Ankara and drive to Yazilikaya to see the "open air sanctuary" with its bas-reliefs. The deciphered Hittite hieroglyphic and cuneiform tablets archived history and laws in an Indo-European language. We proceed to Hattusas, capital of Hittites to view the Lion’s Gate, King’s Tomb, Citadel, Tunnel, Grand Temple. We go to Alacahoyuk, a pre-Hittite site over 7,000 years old. We return to Ankara. (B,L)

Day 4 ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA - We begin by visiting the 15th century buildings that house the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. View the outstanding collection of artifacts dating back to the Paleolithic Age. We drive by Salt Lake to Seljukian Agzikarahan Caravanserai, a 13th century inn used by travelers on the silk and spice road. End the day at Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

Day 5 CAPPADOCIA - Today we visit one of the most unusual sites in the world, the open-air museums of Cappadocia. We explore rock-carved churches, monasteries, Christian frescoes from the 7th-13th centuries, Uchisar's citadel, cities carved into the fairy chimney like landscape, valley of Zelve, Avanos known for its famous handmade pottery and Underground City of Kaymakli that goes down to a depth over 300 feet. (B,L,D)

Day 6 CAPPADOCIA - CATALHOYUK - KONYA - We depart to Catalhoyuk and visit remains of a Neolithic site where Mother Goddess was worshipped. Along the way we see the 13th century, Sultanhani Caravanserai. Next we go to Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Empire who brought with them new artistic elements from Asia. The outstanding characteristics of the Seljuk architecture were tall gateways with ornamental stalactites, ogival archways and ceramic tiling. Konya is home to the world famous Whirling Dervishes. Its founder, Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, lived in the 13th century, was a mystic, poet and humanist philosopher. We visit the Mevlana Museum where he is buried. Overnight in Konya. (B,L,D)

Day 7 KONYA - PAMUKKALE (HIERAPOLIS) - We go to "Cotton Castle" where we see tiers of white limestone cascading down the hillside and near the waterfalls are the ruins of the Roman city of Hierapolis. It has a Byzantine church, ruins of Apollo Temple, Nymphaion (a 4th century fountain) and a Necropolis with more than 1,000 cut stone sarcophagi and tombs. The artistic and architectural pieces provide us with information about the daily life of the ancient Greek and Roman. (B,L,D)

Day 8 PAMUKKALE - MILETUS - PRIENE - KUSADASI - We go to Miletus, the principal port and richest emporium on the Aegean coast. This was home to great philosophers Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes. Miletus Theater is by far the most impressive of the town’s surviving monuments. There is also the council chamber, market place, temples and baths. We go on to Priene, important city of antiquity. It housed the Panionium, the central meeting place and sanctuary of the Ionian Confederacy. We explore the Bouleterion, Athena Temple, agora and temenos of Zeus Olympios. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)

Day 9 KUSADASI - EPHESUS - KUSADASI - We drive to Seljuk and visit Ephesus, the most important and best preserved antique city. In the ancient times it was an important religious site as it is today. Here we walk on marble paved roads and see the remnants: Celsus Library, Great Theater, Roman Baths, Agoras, fountains and temples including one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Temple of Artemis. Later we visit the House of Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John. Overnight Kusadasi (B,L,D)

Day 10 Departure or Extension - After breakfast we transfer to Izmir airport for the trip back home or if arrangements are made we go on to another tour, a yacht cruise or a holiday resort. (B)

Optional Extension ending in Istanbul
DAY 10 KUSADASI - PERGAMUM - CANAKKALE - Instead of flying back to Istanbul we decided to go by land and see some more! We go to Pergamum, important city of antiquity and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. We visit the Acropolis, its library, temples, Asklepion sites. Next we visit the Red Basilica and Archaeological Museum. Overnight in Canakkale. (B,L,D)

DAY 11 CANAKKALE - TROY - ISTANBUL - This morning we visit Troy site of the Trojan Wars. It is immortalized in Homer's Iliad. We talk about its history and Troy's legendary residents Hector, Heros, Achilles, Paris, King Odysseus of Ithaca and Ajax. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L,D)

DAY 12 Departure or Extension - After breakfast we transfer to the airport for the trip back home or if arrangements are made we go on to another tour or a yacht cruise or a holiday resort. (B)

Includes 23 meals, professional guide, airport/hotel transfers, orientation, welcoming cocktail, baggage handling, taxes, service charges, admission fees to sites/ museums as per itinerary, land transportation in A/C vehicles with complementary bottled water and tea.