DAY 01: USA / ENROUTE. This afternoon we meet at the airport for our departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served aloft. DAY 02: ISTANBUL. Today we arrive to the bejeweled capital of Turkey, Istanbul. Our guide will meet us at the airport for the start of the city sightseeing. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. 
DAY 03: ISTANBUL. The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents, and is home to 450 mosques. You'll visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling interior. You'll visit the Topkapi Palace, once home to royal Sultans. Inside you'll see the fabled jewels of the Treasury, delicate displays of Chinese porcelain in the Kitchen Quarters and the provocative Harem Quarters. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) which, for 1000 years, was the largest church in Christendom. Built by Justinian (532-537 AD), the church has 107 columns, fossil imbedded white marble floors and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. We will stop at the Hippodrome, early site of reckless chariot races and then to the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the "Blue Mosque" on our way to the covered bazaar. Catch a whiff of cinnamon, cloves, thyme and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold.
DAY 04: ISTANBUL / IZMIR / KUSADASI. This morning, we will fly to Izmir, the third largest city in modern Turkey. Upon arrival visit Izmir, long a center for Jewish and Christian communities. In Paul's day, the town was known as Smyrna. It was one of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev 2:8-11). You'll see the Agora, the colonnaded commercial center where Roman statues can still be seen. Thyatira was once a busy trading center and famous as a "seller of purple". Today it is famous for Persian rugs. From St. John's letter to the Smyrnaeans we know there was a large Jewish Colony and some embraced the Christian faith. We proceed to Kusadasi, the seaside resort city. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  DAY 05: KUSADASI / EPHESUS / CANAKKALE. After breakfast we drive to Ephesus, one of the Seven Churches of Asia (Rev 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250 thousand, graced with wide, colonnade bordered streets. Today the major streets of ancient Ephesus have been excavated. You'll view the Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You'll visit the Basilica of St. John, traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, you'll enjoy a commanding view of the area. You'll visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up close look at artifacts from the ancient city. Continue to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.
DAY 06: CANAKKALE / KAVALA. After breakfast we will do a city tour of Canakkale. Then we proceed to the Turkey border and cross into Greece to Kavala. Kavala is on the site of ancient Neapolis where Paul, Timothy and Silas landed on the coast of Thrace. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  DAY 07: PHILIPPI / THESSALONIKI. After breakfast we will visit the city of Philippi which was a Roman garrison town and the chief city in the province of Macedonia. It was here that Paul converted a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods. We visit the Baptistry of Lydia, the Market place, the Basilica and the theatre. Overnight in Thessaloniki, which was founded in 315 B.C. by one of Alexander the Great's generals. St. Paul came to Thessaloniki with Silas, and following its usual custom, he went to the synagogue where he used the Jewish scriptures as the source of his preaching.
DAY 08: THESSALONIKI / ATHENS. Today we finish in Thessaloniki and continue visiting sites south through Greece to Athens. Some time at leisure in Athens for rest and relaxation. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. DAY 09: ATHENS / CORINTH. Our sightseeing begins with the Stadium and Temple of Zeus, Theatre of Dionysus and the Hill of Muses for a panoramic view of Athens and the Acropolis. See Mars Hill, where Paul addressed the citizens of Athens, and the monuments of the Acropolis - including the Parthenon, the Agora (marketplace) and Socrates' Prison. This afternoon we will have a tour of Corinth. Visit the 11th century church, built in the golden age of Byzantine art, which contains a series of mosaics without parallel in the legacy of Byzantium. Crossing the Corinthian Canal, which connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas, we see the isthmus where boats were once dragged from one sea to the other. Visit modern Corinth and the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. We will see the first century shops, Fountain of Peirene, the Temple of Apollo and the Bema Seat. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 10: ATHENS / ROME. Early morning departure from Athens to Rome, Italy. Upon arrival we will be met and transferred to our bus for an afternoon tour of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  DAY 11: ROME. Today we will have a full day excursion to Naples and Pompeii with its many excavations. Return to Rome via a stop in Montecassini to view the Abbey. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 12: ROME. A morning visit to the Vatican City includes the Museum, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square, Church of St. Peter, Basilica of St. Paul, the ancient Appian Way and the catacombs of St. Caliztus. Afternoon sightseeing will include Moses' Fountain, Quirinale Palace, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Arch of Titus, the Coliseum - site of early Christian martyrdom - and Mamertine Prison, possibly the final place of confinement of the Apostle Paul before his execution. Return to our hotel for overnight. DAY 13: ROME / NORTH AMERICA. Today after breakfast we depart Rome for North America. The end of a most enjoyable journey. |
