day 1 - March 20 - Istanbul --- Arrive in Istanbul. Dinner will follow the welcome get together and briefing.

day 2 - March 21 - Istanbul --- Byzantine Istanbul Hagia Sophia Cathedral - 6th C - the main cathedral of Constantinople. The masterpiece of the Byzantine Empire. Underground Cistern - 6th C - incredible water reservoir to the royal palaces has more than 300 columns. Hippodrome - 2nd C - see the monuments that decorated the horse track from the Roman times. Chora Church - 14th C - the very best examples of Byzantine wall mosaics. Spice Market - 17 C - Free time to explore and enjoy the market built to house the spice traders on the Silk Road. Still used as a spice market, very colorful, lots of local activity, great place to observe daily life besides shopping for spices.

day 3 - March 22 - Istanbul --- Ottoman Imperial Istanbul Topkapi Palace - 15th C - the royal residence and the seat of the Ottoman government for 400 years. Holds several very important exhibits like the royal treasury, Chinese porcelain, armors, the Harem (ladies quarter), sacred relics of Islam, etc... Blue Mosque - 17th C - the imperial mosque of Sultan Ahmet I, decorated with priceless 17th C tiles. Turkish - Islamic Arts Museum - in a 16th C Grand Viziers palace - for a better understanding of the Turkish culture and arts along with the Islamic arts. Boat trip on the Bosphorus - on a private boat for the group, narrated tour of the strait, a chance to observe architecture of centuries. Grand Bazaar - 15th C - Free time to enjoy the biggest of all bazaars built on the Silk Road.

day 4 - March 23 - Gallipoli & Troy --- from Homer to 21st c. Drive to Gallipoli peninsula on the Dardanelles Strait. See the scene of the battle and learn the history, share the spirit of the battle that caused the realization of three great nations after the WWI, Australia, New Zeland and Turkey. Later in the day, discover the several levels of civilization in Troy, establish a link between the past and today. See "Schliemann" trench where the treasury of King Priam was found towards the end of the 19th C. sleep in Canakkale

day 5 - March 24 - Pergamum --- Acropolis & the Aesclepion Visit the Acropolis of Pergamum, the breathtaking Hellenistic Acroplolis perched on a mountain top. The cityof the kings that controlled the trade of the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean for 150 years. See the impressive Temple of Trajan, altar of Zeus, an actual Hellenistic theatre and the library of Pegamum. sleep in Kusadasi

day 6 - March 25 - Ephesus --- capital of "Provincia Asia" An extensive visit of the Ephesus, the most complete ancient city in the world. See the colonnaded streets, great theatre where St. Paul preached once, library of Celcus, site of Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. sleep in Kusadasi

day 7 - March 26 - Dydima --- ancient Soothsayers En route to Bodrum, visit Temple of Apollo in Dydima - 6th C BC- for the best preserved marble temple of archaic period, excellent state of preservation. Swim in comforting waters of Aegean in the Didim golden sand beach. sleep in Bodrum

day 8 - March 27 - Bodrum --- start of modern history Hometown of historian Heredotus, ancient Halicarnassus, dwelling of contemporary artists and intellectuals. See one of the best preserved crusader castles that houses the most important underwater archeology museum of the world. Full size Roman and Byzantine shipwrecks were excavated and rebuilt in the museum with their original cargo, amazing. The museum was started by Prof. George Bass (he dives with a Rolex in commercials!). See the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. sleep in Bodrum

day 9 - March 28 - Aphrodisias --- powerfull Mother Goddess Drive to Aphrodisias to see the city of the Mother Goddess. Aphrodisias, off the beaten path, used to be a city for sculptures and philosophers. We will see the delicate architecture and statues of the school of Aprodisias. sleep in Antalya

day 10 - March 29 - Antalya --- the Solar Eclipse 4 minutes and 7 seconds of totality! Enjoy an unusually long lasting total solar eclipse from the shores of the Mediterranean. After the Mediterranean breakfast in our hotel, we will travel east of Antalya to Side or Manavgat, about 1 hour driving distance to get to an ideal place for viewing the eclipse. 11:38:24 am - first contact, the partial phase begins 12:55:00 pm - totality begins, second contact, lasting for almost 250 seconds 12:58:45 pm - the third contact, totality ends 14:13:35 pm - the fourth, partial phase ends In the late afternoon, visit Aspendos to learn more about the architectural talent of the Romans and to see the best preserved theater in the world - 2nd C-. sleep in Antalya

day 11 - March 30 - Istanbul --- Back to Istanbul. Activities to be revised due to flight schedule.

day 12 -March 31 --- Tour is over after breakfast.

Individual pre- & post- tour extensions are available to alternative destinations This tour is physically demanding

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