Set off a Bible-oriented multi-day trip to the 7 churches of Asia Minor, including Pergamum, Sardis, and Laodicea. Immerse yourself in the history of Christianity as you explore Greek and Roman ruins. Stay in 4-star hotels during your tour and enjoy breakfast, dinner, and transportation included. Day 1: Arrival in Izmir Enjoy the convenience of being picked up at Izmir airport and driven directly to your hotel. Relax for the evening with dinner at your hotel. Day 2: Izmir, Pergamon, Thyatira, Izmir After breakfast, drive to Pergamum, mentioned in the New Testament as one of the 7 Churches of Asia Minor. Visit the Acropolis of Pergamum, an amphitheater perched dramatically atop a steep hill. Stop at the Asklepion, a famous medical center during the classical era. See the Altar of Zeus, which John the Apostle referred to as the “Throne of Satan.” Walk among the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan. Continue to Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches of Asia. Known in ancient times for its purple dyes, Thyatira is also the city where St. Lydia once lived. As you make your way through the city, you’ll have the chance to see ruins from Roman times. Enjoy a panoramic ride through Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia. Return to the hotel for dinner and some rest. Day 3: Izmir, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Hierapolis Depart to Sardis, now known as Sart was portrayed in the Book of Revelations as a dying church. Visit the Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele. Continue to Philadelphia, now known as Alasehir, another of the Churches of Asia and the only church not censured. Visit Laodicea the last of the seven churches. Drive to Hierapolis, a city known for its therapeutic springs. See the Pamukkale or 'Cotton Fortress', the travertines, and the terraces. Stay overnight in a Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale. Day 4: Pamukkale, Ephesus, Kusadasi Drive to Kusadasi and visit the ancient city of Ephesus. See the Basilica of St. John, which received an epistle from the apostle Paul who lived in Ephesus for 3 years. Tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue in this once great and important city founded over 2 millennia ago. Take a trip back in time as your walk along the marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings such as the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Theatre. See the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a house said to have been the Virgin Mary’s home in her final years. Afterward, enjoy dinner at your hotel in Kusadasi. Day 5: Kusadasi , Izmir Your tour comes to a close as you are picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi and then transferred to the Izmir airport.

Journey through Turkey's history on a day trip from Izmir to Pergamon and the Asclepion. Pergamon is a Unesco site that bears traces of the Ionian, Hellenic, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations. After pickup, drive to Pergamum Acropolis. Bergama, with its historical and cultural richness, is one of the most special cities in Turkey with 3,000 years of history. Bergama witnessed many civilizations and continues to share the traces and manuscripts of this background. Arrive in Pergamon and get on a cable car for Acropolis (about a 5-minute ride). See the Altar of Zeus, the Temple of Dionysus, the Temple of Demeter, and the Great Library, containing 200,000 bundles of books. Continue to see the theater, gymnasium, royal palaces, the Temple of Trojan, aqueducts, fountains, cisterns, and arsenals, some of the most important structures constructed in Pergamum Acropolis. Drive for about 10 minutes to the Pergamon Asclepion, one of the first hospitals in history. Ancient historians said this is ”the place where death is forbidden to enter and testaments are not opened.” The Asclepion is accessible from the Sacred Way and is a 1-km-long street. The Asclepion is the largest medical center of the period, including the serpentine column which became the symbol of modern medicine and pharmacies and was named after Asclepios, the god of healing and medicine. Findings reveal that surgical operations were also performed in Asclepion in addition to diets, hot and cold baths, and physical exercises as the three basic components. Patients were treated in this center with medicines, herbs, music, mud and sunbaths, and psychotherapy. Later, make an optional visit to the Pergamum Carpet Weaving School. Pergamum is also an important city for the carpet business. Pergamum carpets are among the most advanced crafts of the city and have an ethnographic value.

Artifacts have been found at the Pergamon archaeological site that date back to the time of the Hittites. There were early Greek settlements and later Persian domination; though, the city apparently did not blossom until the Hellenistic period. Built upon a steep hilltop 1000 feet above the plains below where the rivers Cetius and Selinus join to create the Caicus River, the Kingdom of Pergamon was founded in the 3rd century BC by Philetarios, a commander who served under Lysimachos. The kingdom faced repeated skirmishes with the invading Gauls and, later, in allegiance to Rome, it fought and defeated the Seleucids. It thrived, nonetheless, as a center of culture and learning throughout the Hellenistc period, especially under the Attalid dynasty, when many of the building projects that you will see remains of today were undertaken. It was during this time that the famous Charta Pergamenta, the first sheepskin parchment, was developed. The library at Pergamon, built and founded by Eumenes II, rivaled that of the day’s foremost library in Alexandria and, out of jealousy, the Egyptian King, Ptolemy, banned the export of papyrus inspiring the invention of the new writing material. Though Pergamon was a major center of pagan worship and not conducive to Christian life, the church there was well established by the end of the 1st century. It was severely challenged, however, by the activities of the pagan community and this struggle is what lies at the heart of the Book of Revelation’s message to the church at Pergamon. The Lord commends the congregation for its obedience, devotion and faithfulness in the face of the persecution, flagrant heathenism and impiety that was being practiced all around them in this city of temple worship and ritual sacrifice (Revelation 2:13). They are then condemned for loosely interpreting doctrine, compromising their morals and allowing themselves to be misled in order to satisfy their carnal desires and their worldly aspirations (Revelation 2:14,15). If they do not recognize the error of their ways and right themselves, they will face perdition; if they do prevail, they will receive sustenance from the Lord, blessings and more of the grace that is already working within them to allow them the capacity for faith (Revelation 2:16,17). Among the many ruins at this sprawling site, you will have the opportunity to see the incredible theater that is set into a steep hillside, the famous library, the Temple of Trajan, the baths, the acropolis and more. The Asclepion, where the famous medical researcher and physician, Galen, studied is located a few kilometers south of the acropolis. Though the impressive Zeus Altar has been removed to the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, its foundations remain to be seen lying in the shade of large trees. What remains of Pergamon is quite extensive and well presented.

Take in a full-day tour of Pergamon and the Asklepion from Kusadasi or Selcuk and learn about this important ancient center of medicine. Get picked up at your hotel by your guide and start your tour of the ancient city of Pergamon. Explore centuries worth of history ranging from the Stone Age to the Classical period. Visit the Asklepion, an ancient medical center named after the god of health and medicine. See the place where famous medical scholars like Hippocrates and Galenus worked. Explore the Acropolis, the Altar of Zeus, and other wonders in this ancient marvel. Have lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. Enjoy a convenient transfer back to your hotel at the end of your tour.

Start with early morning pickup from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport. Take the morning flight to Izmir and upon arrival, your guide will meet you in the arrivals hall and take you to Pergamon. Once at the archaeological site embark on a guided tour. See the majestic acropolis, which was modelled after the Acropolis of Athens. Marvel at the impressive Athenaeum Library and the partially reconstructed Temple of Trojan. Discover steep slopes of the Theatre of Pergamon which once could accommodate around 10,000 people, and is the steepest theatre of its kind. Enjoy the panoramic views from the hilltop overlooking the site. Later, explore the famous Sanctuary of Asclepius, located in the valley. See the remains of the sacred fountain where people with health problems are reputed to have received visions from the Greek God of Medicine, Asclepius, in order to cure their ailments. After a delicious lunch with Turkish specialities, visit the Red Basilica where you can see many original artefacts found on the site. At the end of the day, ride through the countryside to Izmir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your driver will take you back to your hotel.

Day 1 (Pergamum, Thyatira, Smyrna) Upon your arrival at Izmir, meet your tour guide and drive to Pergamum. There you'll explore the impressive Acropolis, the actual ancient city and see the Altar of Zeus. Later continue to Asklepion, the famous medical center of classical times, you'll also visit the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church) then continue the drive to Thyatira, now called Akhisar. There you'll see the remains of a basilica and some architectural fragments from the Roman period. Upon driving back to Izmir you'll enjoy a panoramic ride of Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia. Overnight in Izmir (Breakfast-Lunch) Day 2  (Izmir, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Hierapolis ) Today you'll depart early in the morning to  Sardis where you'll visit the great temple which became a Byzantine Church later. You will also visit the restored gymnasium and the Synagogue. Then you'll continue the journey to Philadelphia. There you'll see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of bricks, with a bit of high arch and some 11th-century frescoes. Afterward, you drive to the healing city of Hierapolis where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools. There you'll visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip. Then in Laodicea, you can walk the ancient streets of the city and see the ancient structures. Overnight in Pamukkale. (Breakfast-Lunch) Day 3 ( Ephesus, Kusadasi ) Drive to Ephesus and visit the ancient city of Ephesus. There you walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings such as the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre. Later we drive to the House of the Virgin Mary where she spent her last days and the assumption took place. After that, you visit the Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Overnight in Kusadasi. (Breakfast-Lunch) Important Note: 3 days tour option ends on day 3, after the Ephesus tour. Please inform your drop-off point. Day 4: Departure Day Today is the end of the tour, According to your flight time meet with your driver at the hotel and drive to Izmir Airport.  (Breakfast)

Day 1: Following an early pickup from your hotel in Istanbul, head towards Gallipoli Peninsula by giving a break on the half way ( Breakfast served at own expense ) Along the way, stop in Eceabat and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch, continue your journey to Gallipoli. Once you arrive, embark on a guided tour of the most important sites and monuments, including Brighton Beach, the Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, the Ariburnu Cemetery, the ANZAC Commemorative Site, the Mehmetcik Statue, the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, the Nek, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. At 6:00PM, transfer to your accommodation for your overnight stay. Day 2: Depart for a tour of Troy. Visit the Trojan Horse, Sacrificial Altars, The 3,700-year-old city walls, Houses of Troy I, Bouleuterium (Senate Building), and Odeon (Concert Hall). Marvel at the remains of the various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX. Next, travel to Bergama, admiring the luscious views along the way. Savor a delicious lunch before heading uphill to the ancient Pergamon Acropolis - once the residence of the royal families and aristocrats. Explore the former palaces, temples, and water reservoirs, as well as the Acropolis, the library, the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Trajan, the Altar of Zeus, the gymnasium situated on the terraces, the Lower Agora, the Hellenistic Theater, and the Temple of Dionysus. Your tour finally finishes at 5:30PM, at which point you can sit back and relax on your return journey to either Selcuk or Kudasasi.

Seven Holy Churches Turkey Even today, Turkey is important to people because of the holy seven churches, located the in Aegean Region. Booking Tours Turkey offer you the chance to discover the holy churches with a professional guide and exceptional service in Turkey. In the chapter of Revelation, The apostle St. John had sent his greeting and had described what he had seen in Patmos. St. John told, while he was in the presence of the spirit, he had heard voice tell him to write on a Scroll what he saw before him and send them to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Monday – Day 1: IZMIR ARRIVAL Today is the first day of this religious and historical tour. Your tour will take start from Izmir airport or Kusadasi port. You guide will be waiting for you to meet and transfer you to your hotel in Izmir. (Meal: Dinner) Tuesday – Day 2: PERGAMON – THYATIRA – IZMIR After breakfast you will depart for the ancient city to the church of Pergamum, in Bergama. In the Pergamum you will see the Acropolis, steepest theatre in the world, and the Altar of Zeus, mentioned as Throne of Satan in the book of revelation. After the acropolis we will visit the Asklepieion which is the center of health in Roman times. In Pergamum you will also discover the second largest library of Ancient times, after Library of Alexandria in Egypt. The estimated number of books in Pergamum library is around 200.000, called Parchments. In Pergamum we will also visit the Red Basilica (St. John's Church). Then we will drive to Thyatira, now Akhisar city, another one of the Seven Churches of Asia. Thyatira was a city famous for purple dyes. We visit the remains of a basilica and some architectural ruins from the Roman period. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. After the tour we will drive back to Izmir, before checking into the hotel we will discover the panoramic side of Smyrna which is the third biggest city of Turkey. Smyrna was of the seven churches in Asia. You will also visit the central city area called Clock tower. Overnight in Izmir. (Meal: Breakfast and Dinner) Wednesday – Day 3: IZMIR – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA - LAODICEA – HIERAPOLIS In the morning, you will depart for one of the important seven churches of Asia called Sardis. Sardis was the capital city of the ancient Lydian Kingdom of 6th century BC. In Sardis, you will visit temple of Artemis and the temple of Cybele, godess of fertility. This tepmple was converted to a Byzantine Church. In Sardis, you will visit some Lydian houses, with gymnasium and Synagogue. Here we will also see the last part of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis, built by Cyrus. You will get your lunch en route. We will drive to Philadelphia, to Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia, and the only church not censured. There we see the ruins of a Byzantine basilica, built by brick, with a high arch and some 11th century frescoes. We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, now called Pamukkale, the white «cotton fortress» where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and of Laodicea in 190 BC. In Hierapolis we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian. We will proceed to Laodicea (Denizli) yet another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. We see the ancient theatre, the remains of a basilica and ancient stone water pipes. We will see the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD Theatre, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium and the Necropolis. After tour checkin at hotel for dinner and overnight in a Thermal Hotel. (Meal: Breakfast and Dinner) Thursday – Day 4: EPHESUS – KUSADASI After your breakfast, we will drive to the ancient city of Ephesus, the capital city of Asia Minor. Ephesus is the one of the important seven churches in Asia. On our tour we will visit the Basilica of St. John, the apostle of Jesus. St. Paul preached the Ephesians about religion and spent his last three years of life there. You will also discover the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Than we will visit the Ancient of city Ephesus. In this ancient city we will see and walk through the history set along the marble streets, wonderful ruins, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and ancient third largest Theatre. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus is another of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Before returning to the hotel, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Overnight in Kusadasi. (Meal: Breakfast and Dinner) Friday Day 5 : IZMIR – HOME Pick up from hotel and transfer to Izmir airport for your flight back home. (Meal: Breakfast)

Day 1: Smyrna Adventure Embarking on a captivating 3-day journey exploring the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, we'll commence our tour from Izmir Airport or the designated meet-up point at 9 am. Our first destination is the fascinating ancient city of Pergamon, home to the historic Acropolis. There, we'll marvel at the ruins of legendary landmarks, including the esteemed altar of Zeus, the sacred sanctuary of Athena, the ancient library, and the venerable temple of Asklepion. Following our Pergamon exploration, we'll recharge with a delightful lunch at a local eatery in Thyateira. Then, our path leads us back to Izmir, formerly known as Smyrna, where we'll visit the renowned St. John's Cathedral. Here, we'll delve into the history of persecuted churches and their profound connections to the book of Revelation. At the end of the day, we'll find comfort in our hotel in Smyrna, anticipating the adventures of tomorrow. Day 2: Smyrna's Treasures As the sun rises, we embark on another day of discovery. Our first stop is Sardis, an ancient Jewish city with intriguing ruins, such as the Temple of Artemis and the Anatolian Synagogue. After absorbing the history of Sardis, we'll indulge in a delectable meal at a local restaurant. Our journey continues to Philadelphia, founded in 189 B.C., famous for its association with one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor mentioned in the book of Revelation. Venturing further, we'll explore Hierapolis, an enchanting "spa city," where we'll marvel at the ancient Roman theater and necropolis. As the day concludes, we'll retreat to our welcoming hotel in Pamukkale for a satisfying dinner and well-deserved rest. Day 3: Pamukkale's Rich Heritage Welcoming the morning with a scrumptious breakfast, we'll visit the Church of Laodicea, an ancient city that once belonged to the renowned Seleucid Empire. Exploring its remains, we'll be captivated by the impressive stadium, the grand amphitheater, the elegant odeon, and the impressive aqueduct. Our next destination is Ephesus, a treasure trove of an ancient city, boasting remarkable ruins that transport us back in time. Savoring a delightful lunch in Ephesus, we'll eventually return to Izmir. Worry not, as we'll ensure you reach the airport in ample time for your homeward flight, bidding farewell to a memorable journey through history and culture.

Your Ancient Greek adventure begins with pickup from your accommodation in Izmur. Arrive at the Pergamon and take the 15-minute cable car ride up to the Acropolis, admiring the luscious views of Bergama along the way. The Acropolis, which means Upper Town, sits at the top of a large hill and has some of the most important architectural remains of Pergamon. The Upper Town is divided into 3 main parts, the higher sheltered area of the Acropolis is home to the former palaces, temples, water reservoirs, and fountains of the royal families and aristocrats who would have lived here. In this part you can visit the Trajan temple, Zeus Altar, the temple of Athena, the Pergamon Library, and more.  The next stop of the day is to the Asklepion, which would have been the medical center of the town. According to famous writer Pausianos, the medical sanatorium was first established in Pergamon in the 4th century BC and was developed during the Hellenistic period. From your guide, learn about how the Romans created a sacred path between the lower city and the medical center, along which sick patients would walk barefoot and carry images of  organs to help inform the doctors of their ailments. At the end of an educational and insightful day, sit back and relax on the return journey to Izmir.