| Capital
Cities of Asia Minor
- 10 day tour of Western Turkey |
|
They were sovereign on three continents, the Byzantine and
Ottoman empires... They no longer exist, nor Alexander's
empire, Kingdom of Pergamon, or the wealthy Lydian Kingdom.
But you can trace their permanent shadows in their capital
cities, and the evidences of long forgotten kings and vagabonds! |
|
There is more
to it... You will walk the battlefields where fierce fights
during WW1 changed the run of history. You will see the
lands where mythology becomes reality in Homer’s verses.
And you will hear centuries old recipes; olives for anything,
or garlic as the formula of immortality in Aesclepion... |
|
•
Highlights
of Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul, including a cruise on
the Bosphorus...
•
Edirne,
and the masterpiece of Architect Sinan; Selimiye Mosque
•
Legendary
Troy, and Gallipoli peninsula WW1 memorials
•
Visit
to an olive oil manufactoring plant that still uses ancient
methods
•
Hellenistic
city of Pergamon that rivaled Athens' Acropolis
•
Aesclepion,
ancient medical center dedicated to Apollo
•
Ancient
Ephesus, capital city of the Asian Province of Rome
•
Lydian
Sardis, the city of King Croesus
•
Bursa,
first capital of the Ottoman Empire
•
Iznik
(Nicea), home to two ecumenical councils
•
Cappadocia
- tour extension
|
|
| 10
days - 12 days including Cappadocia extension. Tour starts
and ends in Istanbul - |
| contact
for pre- & post-tour alternatives. |
-
Accommodations
in centrally located hotels
- All breakfasts, and half the
lunches and dinners
- All entrance fees to sites
and museums listed
- All tips, including your guide
and driver |
|
| day
1 - Istanbul --- We
get together in the afternoon for our tour introduction. Dinner
will follow a short walk in the neighborhood. |
| day
2 - Istanbul --- Ottoman
Istanbul -
Topkapi Palace served as the administrative center for the Ottoman
dynasty for over 400 years. Our tour includes the Treasury,
and the Harem, private apartments of the royal family. Then
we will walk to the Blue Mosque, known for its outstanding 17.
century tiles, and continue on to the Mosque of Suleiman the
Magnificient, masterpiece of the royal architect Sinan. After
a brief orientation, you will have free time in the Grand Bazaar. |
| day
3 - Istanbul --- Byzantine
Istanbul -
Hagia Sophia was the pride of Constantinople, capital city of
the Byzantine Empire. It is the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture;
unique architectural style, the dome and dimensions influenced
many generations to come. Next stop will be the Hippodrome,
center of political and sportive activities in the capital city.
Then we will take a cruise up the Bosphourus, the strait that
divides two continents, and the only water pass to the Black
Sea. Later in the day we will visit St. Savior in Chora, a spectacular
church of the late Byzantine era. Mosaic decorations of this
church rival those in Ravenna. Orientation and free time in
Spice Market. |
| day
4 - Canakkale ---
In the morning we drive to Edirne, capital of the Ottoman Empire
from 1416 until the conquest of Istanbul in 1453. Built by the
royal architect Sinan (the Great) for Sultan Selim, the 16.
century Selimiye Mosque is known for its elaborate architecture,
and the perfect dome. It is contemporary with the Renaissance
in Europe. Afterwards we will visit a mediaeval healing center
from the Ottoman times, specialized in mental diseases. |
| Wrestling
is the national sport of the country. Every year in summer,
a traditional oil wrestling festival is held in Edirne, to choose
the champion of the year. We will stop by the Kirkpinar field
where this event takes place. Later in the day, we drive to
Canakkale, and before we cross the Dardanelles, we'll visit
Gallipoli World War I memorials, the trenches and war fields,
that witnessed the end of an era. |
| day
5 - Mt. Ida --- Troy,
the legendary city in Homer's Illiad, has been excavated for
a very long time. As we tour the site of ancient Troy, we will
learn how systematic excavations are carried out to find out
the unknown behind nine different layers of settlement. We will
see the huge Cyclopean walls, and the so called 'trench' where
Schlieman found the treasures of King Priam. We will take a
look at Dardanelles from the site of the Temple of Athena, from
where Trojans watched Greek forces approaching. |
| Later
today we will visit an olive oil manufacturing plant that still
works with ancient methods, and continue on to Mt. Ida for overnight.
This is where Zeus watched the war for Helen of Troy. |
| day
6 - Kusadasi --- Today
we drive to Pergamon. The ruins of the spectacular Acropolis
are 1,000 feet above the contemporary town of Pergamon (Bergama),
and command an extraordinary view in nearly all directions.
We will also visit Aesclepion, ancient medical center dedicated
to god Apollo. Izmir is ancient Smyrna, and this is where Homer
was born. After an orientation tour of the city, we will be
heading further south to Kusadasi for overnight. |
day
7 - Kusadasi --- In
the Roman times, Ephesus was one of the largest metropolitans
of the world, and the capital city of Asian Province of the
empire.
As we tour Ephesus, you will be walking the streets that many
well known personalities walked; such as Socrates, Anthony and
Kleopatra... We will see the theater building where St. Paul
preached, and the Celcius library, masterpiece of Roman architecture.
You will also enjoy the local museum in Selcuk where a great
collection of artifacts from the excavations in Ephesus are
exhibited. Later in the afternoon, we take you to the site of
Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. |
| day
8 - Bursa --- To
Sardis, capital city of ancient Lydia. The phrase “rich
as Croesus” refers to the legendary king of this state.
This is where minted coins – as a monetary unit - ultimately
changed the long lasting way of commercial life; exchange of
goods and precious material! The Gymnasion, Synagogue, and the
temple dedicated to Artemis are great examples of classical
architecture. |
| As
the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa is quite a colorful
city. Here we will visit the 15. century Grand Mosque, a vast
building with 20 domes, and noted for the variety and beauty
of the calligraphic ornamentation. The Green Mosque and the
Green Mausoleum are named after the Turqoise colored tiles used
for decoration. These are early examples of classical Ottoman
art and architecture. We will take a walk in the downtown, taste
candied chestnuts, meet famous shadow puppet characters of medieval
Ottoman folklore, and have a Turkish coffee in the old bazaar
that housed silk trade for centuries. If you are interested
in Turkish bath, Bursa is the place! |
| day
9 - Istanbul ---
Back to Istanbul. En route, we will visit Iznik, known in the
past as Nicea. The city had always been an important center
for arts and culture, and it was known all over the world for
the tiles produced here. The first and seventh Ecumenical Councils
met in Nicaea, in 325 and 787. And for a short period of time,
the city served as the administrative centre for the Byzantine
dynasty, during the Crusaders' invasion of Constantinople. Here
we will see ruins of St. Sophia (site of the first Ecumenical
Council), the city walls, and the local museum of tiles. As
we arrive in Istanbul, farewell dinner will conclude the day. |
day
10 --- Tour
is over after breakfast. |
|
-
Accommodations
in a centrally located hotel/pension
- All breakfasts, and half
the lunches and dinners
- All entrance fees to sites
and museums listed
- Two domestic flights; Istanbul-Cappadocia-Istanbul
- All tips, including your
guide and driver
|
|
USD
495.- per person in double occupancy |
USD
545.- pp for 2 participants |
|
day
10 - Cappadocia --- We
take the morning flight to Cappadocia. As we arrive in the
region, we will visit Goreme Open Air Museum and the late
Byzantine churches carved in the rock. Also included on our
tour is the underground city of Kaymakli that was a temporary
shelter during the never ending wars of the past. |
| day
11 - Istanbul --- In
the
Red Valley, and pictureque Pasabag, you will observe some of
the most spectacular rock formations in the area, known as the
"fairy chimneys". We will continue on to Avanos, a
small town on the Red River known for its traditional red clay
pottery. In Zelve, you will be seeing some of the rock dwellings
that were still in use till the early 20th. century. We will
take the late afternoon or evening flight back to Istanbul. |
| day
12 --- Tour
is over after breakfast. |
|
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