Destination
Day 07: After breakfast you will drive to Laodicea Ad Lycum on
the South bank of the Lycus River. The town was originally called Diospolis, "City of Zeus", and afterwards Rhoas. The building of Laodicea took place during 261-253 BC and it is ascribed to Antiochus II Theos. It was built in honour of his wife Laodice. The building was probably founded on the site of the older town. It was approximately 17 km west of Colossae, and 10 km south of Hierapolis. From a very early period the town was one of the chief seats of Christianity. Laodicea receives passing mention in the epistle to the Colossians. Today, Laodice is solely an archaeological site. The existing remains still attest to Laodicea’s former greatness. The ruins near Denizli (Denisli) are relatively well preserved. Its stadium, gymnasium, and theatres are well deserving of notice. Other buildings on the top of the hill, are full of interest; in the East, the line of the ancient wall can be distinctly traced to the remains of a gateway. There is also a street within the town, flanked by the ruins of a colonnade and numerous pedestals. The street leads to a heap of fallen ruins on the brow of the hill, about 200 metres outside the walls. You will visit ancient Philadelphia, the seat of a Christian bishopric during Byzantine times, also referred to as the New Jerusalem. Few ruins remain at the site of ancient Philadelphia after an earthquake hit In 17 AD. A small theatre located at the northern edge of Toptepe Hill is all that remains of ancient Philadelphia. The next stop is Sardis, the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia. You will spend the night in Kusadasi. Sardis is East of Izmir, and is solely an archaeological site. A small village nearby is named Sart. Places that we will see include the Sardis Synagogue, the Temple of Artemis and the Byzantine Church.
You will also visit Smyrna (modern Izmir). Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey, with more than 2.5 million people. It is known as the "Pearl of the Aegean" and is one of Turkey's most westernised cities. The city’s origins are believed to date back to 3 000 BC. The city had a large Christian population (including Greek Orthodox) until 1922. Most of them fled during the turmoil of the War of Independence. Places of interest include the St Polycarp Church (the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Izmir and the seat of the Catholic archbishop); the Archaeological Museum which houses artifacts from the Bayrakh Mound; and the famous Treasury (Hazine) – containing gold jewellery dating from the 6th - 3rd centuries BC. The Agora, central market of the Roman city of Smyrna dates back to the 2nd century AD. Several Corinthian columns with well-preserved capitols are still standing today and they are a part of a basilica. You will overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 09: Early morning you will drive to Pergamum (modern
Bergama). The great acropolis of Pergamum is one of the most dramatic sights to see. Places of interest include the Asklepion Sanctuary and the Altar of Zeus, which is said to be "the place where Satan has his throne" (Revelations 2:13). The altar was rebuilt in Berlin’s Pergamum Museum.
Pergamum is home to the world's steepest theatre. It was constructed in the 3rd century BC. The theatre has 80 rows of seats and an estimated capacity of 10 000. The Red Basilica was originally a center of pagan worship and afterwards used as a church dedicated to St John.
Day 10:
A visit to Thyatira (modern Akhisar) will also be made. You will start the day by visiting the silk market and Sultan Mehmet’s Tomb in Bursa. Afterwards you will depart for Istanbul. On the way to Istanbul you will stop at the ruins of St Sophia, in Nicaea. It was her H ][\\?????[?[?H[ H?\??X?[Y[?X?[??[??[[? ?HQ ?H \???H? \???[??[ ?\? ???Y?H H?Z] ?? \?^H H?X?[?H?YY \? H? H?YY? H? ?\?X[?? \?? ??[[? ?[ ?X? ?Y?\?????[?? H^?Z]?[??H?\??K [?H ?[\??]?H[?\?[??[ ?\?H [?H ?[ ?\?] H ?X?HX\??][?]?HH?\?]?[[??\??? \?^H H??\ ?[ ?] \?????H\?[??[ ???[??\?\????^H ?Y?\???XZ?\? [?H ?[ ?\?]\\?\??Y?\??\??H][]?Y\?H?? ? YX\????B??H ?Z[??? H?] K\\?\?\?H ??YH? H?X]\?[? H[?\?? ?? ?\??[? H ??H?YZ??] H ?\??Z[ \?K?H?] H ?H ?YH ?^H ?\???[?Y[? H
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