ISTANBUL 77ºF - 81ºF - ADANA 86ºF - 86ºF - ANTIOCH 86ºF - 86ºF

Welcome to your Europamundo Trip Style!!! The information about the meeting place and start time of your circuit can be found on your voucher.Pick up from the hotel and departure to the airport for a domestic flight to ADANA, city located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, which has one of the most fertile lands in the world and is also a cotton industry centre. Transfer to ANTAKYA that was one of the headquarters of the five original patriarchates along with Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria and Jerusalem. We will visit Saint Peter´s Cave considered one of the first churches of Christianity, where Peter celebrated the Eucharist for his community. The cave was transformed into a church in 1198. We will also visit the Archaeological Museum, famous for its magnificent collection of mosaics from late Roman and Byzantine times found in Daphne and surroundings (both tickets included). Accommodation and dinner included at the hotel in Antakya.

ANTIOCH 86ºF - 86ºF - TARSUS 86ºF - 86ºF - CAPADOCIA

This morning we will go to the biblical city of TARSUS, one of the major cities of the ancient world, where Saint Paul was born and also the meeting place of two famous lovers: Anthony and Cleopatra. We will see Cleopatra’s Gate, the partially excavated old avenue of Tarsus, and visit the Well, Saint Paul´s house and Saint Paul´s church (tickets included). In the afternoon transfer to CAPPADOCIA. Arrival, accommodation and dinner.

CAPADOCIA

Today we are going to enjoy a full-day tour where we´ll visit a unique region in the world for its volcanic landscapes, underground cities of early Christian times and thousands of rock-cut churches with fantastic frescoes. Cappadocia is under the protection of UNESCO as a Unique World Heritage Site. The origin of monastic life dates back to Cappadocia with Saint Basil of Caesarea and Saint Paul. During our visit we will include the Open Air Museums of Göreme and Zelve (tickets included) and churches with the best preserved frescoes. Also, we will admire the magnificent valleys of Üçhisar and Güvercinlik. After a short trip we will arrive at AVANOS, a village famous for its handmade pottery from the Hittite times. Return to the hotel and dinner.

CAPADOCIA - KONYA 79ºF - 79ºF

After breakfast we will visit the fascinating underground city of DERINKUYU (entrance included), the deepest in the world with almost 20 levels since Hittites times to the first Christians. On the way to today´s destination we will stop in SULTANHAN, a 13th century caravansarai Seljuki on the Silk Road. Later on we will get to KONYA, capital of the Seleucids Sultans. We will visit Rumi´s Mausoleum (Mevlana), poet and philosopher who founded the mystical and religious sect of the Dancing Derviches. Konya was the destination for Saint Paul and for Barnabas´s first missionary trip. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel.

KONYA 79ºF - 79ºF - ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA - PAMUKKALE 86ºF - 86ºF

After breakfast we will head to ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA, one of the two cities called Antioch in the Bible. In Roman times, it was the capital of the province and a very wealthy metropolis, at the slopes of the impressive Taurus Mountain range. It was here where Saint Paul and Barnabas stopped on their first apostolic journey preaching the gospel. Paul´s first sermon, in the synagogue, was heard by both Jews and Gentiles, spreading Christianity along the region and thus creating a Christian community. Since then, Jesus´s followers were called “Christians”. We will visit the city synagogues and churches, along with the temple and the theatre (tickets included). Arrival in PAMUKKALE, accommodation and dinner at the hotel.

PAMUKKALE 86ºF - 86ºF - HIERAPOLIS 86ºF - 86ºF - LAODICEA - KUSADASI 75ºF - 81ºF

Today our interesting journey begins by visiting HIERAPOLIS (entrance included), mentioned in Saint Paul´s Epistle to the Colossians, where the Apostle Philip came to preach Christianity. He is believed to have lived and have been martyred here by the Romans. Hierapolis is one of the great archaeological sites of Anatolia. We will explore one of the richest cemeteries in the ancient world, the Domitian Gate and the main avenue.We will also see the White travertine Waterfall of Pamukkale, a unique place in the world, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO (ticket included).After that we will arrive at LAODICEA, one of the “Seven Churches of Revelation”, whose Christians were called “indifferent” by John. Recent excavations are revealing the walls of what could have been a monumental church.Arrival in KUSADASI accommodation and dinner at the hotel.

KUSADASI 75ºF - 81ºF

Our day will start after breakfast by visiting the splendid city of EPHESUS. Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Minor Asia and it´s the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis, and also of the third richest library in the world, the Library of Celsus. Saint Paul came to Ephesus in 54 AD. He preached and converted people into the Christian faith, establishing the church of Ephesus. Saint John also spent his last years here and it is believed that he is buried in Saint John´s Basilica. Likewise, for Catholics, this is the place where Virgin Mary lived her last years and was ascended to paradise. Tickets included to Virgen Mary´s House and Saint John´s Basilica. Return to Kusadasi and dinner at the hotel.

KUSADASI 75ºF - 81ºF - PERGAMON 84ºF - 84ºF - ASSOS 77ºF - 77ºF

In the morning we will move to a mythical city, PERGAMON, site of many pagan temples. However, since the second century AD, it has become a strong bulwark of Christianity, as confirmed by the monumental size of Saint John´s Basilica. Pergamon was the capital of the Hellenistic kingdom and its library, the second richest after Alexandria´s. We shall not forget that the parchment paper was invented here. We will visit Saint John´s Basilica (the Red Church), the Great Altar of Zeus and the Temple of Trajan, the Hellenistic Theatre and the place where the library was (tickets included). After a short bus trip we will arrive at the Asklepion of Pergamon, one of the three most famous hospitals in the ancient world (entrance included).In the afternoon we will reach ASSOS, where Aristotle carried out his teachings for a while. On his third missionary journey, Saint Paul travelled on foot from Alexandria Troas to Assos. Arrival in Assos, accommodation and dinner at the hotel.

ASSOS 77ºF - 77ºF - TROY - ISTANBUL 77ºF - 81ºF

There is no better way to start our last day of journey than visiting the legendary TROY (entramce included), stage of Homer´s Iliad. We will enjoy the visit of the 9 archaeological sites of the city on Hisarlik hill, and we will see the replica of the famous Trojan horse. After this unforgettable trip we will arrive at Çanakkale to cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry and continue to ISTANBUL, where we will arrive late in the afternoon.End of services. Our guide will drop you off at the agreed point.We hope you have enjoyed your circuit with Europamundo. VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN THE MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE CHANGES IN OPENING AND CLOSING TIMES. DURING THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS (END OF RAMADAN AND SACRIFICE) THE BAZAARS AND SOME MONUMENTS WILL BE CLOSED.