Private Seven Churches Tour 3 Nights

Highlights : Laodicea ,Hierapolis Ancient City ,Pamukkale

We meet you at Cardak airport (Airport code is Dnz) with a sign on which your name is written. We drive about an hour . On the way to Hierapolis-Pamukkale Turkey , have a visit to Laodicea.Laodicea was a place of great wealth, of commerce, and of Greek culture. It was a place of science and of literature.

The letter of Christ to the church in Laodicea is the last of these seven letters.This city was founded by Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.). It is located at what is known as the “Gate of Phrygia.” Out of the Oriental East, the great camel caravans came dawn through the Gate of Phrygia and through Laodicea. Hierapolis is referred only once in the Bible, when St. Paul praises Epaphras, a Christian from Colossae, in his letter to the Colossians. Paul writes that Epaphras “has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis” (Colossians 4:12-13). Epaphras was probably the founder of the Christian community at Hierapolis. Next to Hierapolis you can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale Turkey, Hierapolis –Pamukkale is in the list of World Heritage Site.

Overnight in Pamukkale Turkey.

Highlights: Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira, Asclepion.

If You would like before you start the tour, you can join; <a href="https://www.turkeytourkeys.com/index.php/trip/hot-air-balloon-in-pamukkale/"> Hot Air Balloon in Pamukkale(Extra) </a>

Today we check out ,and continue for Philadelphia.The name of the city means ”brotherly love “.It was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus (159-138 B.C ), so named because of his devotion to his brother Eumenes .This city had the longest duration of any of the seven churches receiving the seven letters.In fact, it still exists today under the Turkish name ,”Alasehir “.After Philadelphia, we stop for Sardis.It was the capital of Lydia . A massive temple of Cybele stood there. Bearing witness to the wealth of the city. Sardis was famous for arts and crafts and was the first center to mint gold and silver coinage. An earthquake in 17 A.D ruined the city physically and financially ,and it never recovered. This is the “dead “church ,alive in name only.

When we fnish , drive about one hour and have lunch in Akhisar.It is a county district and its town center in Manisa province.And then Thyatira .It was an ancient city in Lydia ,with a thriving dyeing industry and was a garrison town over long centuries and a center of commerce.The word “Thyatira “ means , Dominating Female.” This is one of the greatest curses in the world. It has special application to this church of God. Thyatira became an early center of Christianity. The apostle Paul visited the city on a number of occasions during his missionary travels.We drive for an hour to Bergama to see Asclepion.

Asclepion was a ancient healing center and the world’s first psychiatric hospital.Located in Bergama,known for its interesting archaeological ruins from the ancient Roman city of Pergamon this ancient place is still beautiful and well-worth a visit.Asclepion was a mixture between a sanctuary and modern spa.It had facilities where the sick could relax and enjoy themselves such as a library and a small theatre.

Overnight in Bergama.

Highlights : Pergamun, Red Basilica,Smyrna

Today , First stop is Pergamum. Pergamum, also Pergamon and Pergamos, is a pre-Greek name presumably meaning “citadel.” Pergamum was the capital of the kingdom of Pergamum. The acropolis still stands there, and the ruins of the great temples and the city are on top of it. It was a city in Mysia and is one of the most beautiful spots in Asia Minor.

Red Basilica is another stop .Previously a temple thought to honor ancient Egyptian gods, then converted to a church, the Red Basilica pays homage to the different cultures and societies that have inhabited Anatolia. The basilica is called the “red courtyard” by people because of its large courtyard and the whole structure being made up of red brick being historically important for Christians after being converted to a church during the Byzantine era, the basilica is a high priority for tourists visiting Bergama.

Lunch in Bergama

Later on we continue Izmir to visit Smyrna (Agora) . Smyrna, now Izmir , is Turkey’s third largest city and its second most important port.It was famous for its science , medicine.and the beauty of its buldings. It vied with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title “first city of Asia.” Strabo called it “the most beautiful of all” cities and praised its excellent street plan When Christianity came to Smyrna is not known. The earliest reference to Christians in the city is in the book of Revelation.

Overnight in Izmir Turkey

Highlights : Virgin Mary House,Ephesus,St Basila Church

We start the day with Virgin Mary House . The House of the Virgin Mary, located in a nature park between Ephesus Turkey and Seljuk, is believed to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. The peaceful site is sacred to both Christians and Muslims, and is visited by many tourists and pilgrims.

Ephesus was not only a beautiful city, it was the chief city of the province of Asia.It was both the religious and commercial center of that entire area which influenced both East and West Asia and Europe. We can see lot of remains such as the Library of Celsius, Hadrians Temple, the Fountains of Trajan, Polio, The Temples of Hadrian and Domitian, Vedious and Scholastic Baths, Bouloterion, and the Great Theatre with capacity of 24.000 spectators.

Lunch in Selcuk

After lunch we visit St John Basilica. It is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayasuluk Hill.

We drop off you to the Izmir Airport.

End of the Tour.