1.863.709.9028

European Tours | Footsteps of Paul

Departure Dates

04/23/12 - 05/02/12
04/30/12 - 05/09/12
05/21/12 - 05/30/12
04/23/12 - 04/30/12
06/04/12 - 06/13/12
09/24/12 - 10/03/12
10/22/12 - 10/31/12
10/29/12 - 11/07/12
01/28/13 - 02/06/13
02/18/13 - 02/27/13

Departure Cities
Charlotte, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis, Nashville, Orlando, Columbus, Columbia SC, Des Moines, Ft. Myers, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Louisville, Montgomery, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa

Tour Price
from - Call for brochure and pricing 1.863.709.9208*

*Full Terms and Conditions
*actual price dependent on departure city

Additional departure cities available
upon request!

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Ready to book your trip? Give us a call at 1.863.709.9208, or e-mail us at info@ittworld.com

10-Day Asia Minor – Turkey & Greece, Walk in the Footsteps of Paul Tour, with an optional Pompeii & Rome Extension

Destination Countries: Turkey, Greece, Optional Rome Extension

10-Day
Tour

Itinerary

Day 01

Monday, Depart USA for Istanbul
Tour members depart USA for our flight to Istanbul. After take-off, meals will be served according to flight schedule.
Day 02

Tuesday, Arrival Istanbul, Turkey
Arrival in Istanbul (Constantinople), the city which straddles two continents. Istanbul was once the capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than one thousand years and capital of the Ottoman Empire for more than five hundred years. Istanbul is famous for many beautiful places and museums, which you will have the opportunity to see the next day. You will be met by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 03

Wednesday, Istanbul Highlights
Begin your "Istanbul City tour". The tour starts with the Blue Mosque, the most splendid mosque in the city, which is distinguished by six slender minarets and the interior decorated with blue Iznik tile. Continue with a walk through the Hippodrome, the center of Byzantine civic life, housing three ancient monu-‐ ments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Visit St. Sophia (Divine Wisdom), one of the greatest churches in the world, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. After the conquest of the city in 1453, it was transformed into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror and into a museum by Ataturk in 1934. In the afternoon, visit the famous Topkapi Palace, where the rich collection of Ottoman Treasures can be seen. This palace, with a base area of 700,000 sq. meters, is spread over the promontory called the Seraglio Point. View the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. This legendary maze of buildings was the residence of the Ottoman sultans and the administrative heart of the Empire. Nowadays, it is one of the world's greatest museums. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 04

Thursday, Istanbul, fly to Izmir, Pergamum & Thyatira
We leave Istanbul and are transferred to Istanbul Airport for our short flight to Izmir. We Arrive Izmir and we begin our sightseeing as we tour ancient Pergamum (Bergsma)- center of rule for the Roman Empire, Sights include the Aesclepion, an ancient healing center, the acropolis with its pagan temples and Altar of Zeus (some call the throne of Satan) and the Temple of Trajan. After stopping for lunch, we will continue on to Thyatira, smallest of the Seven Churches of which John writes in Revelations. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
Day 05

Friday, Philadelphia, Sardis, Izmir
Early morning start takes us to Philadelphia (Alasehir) the church that "kept the faith", and Sardis, capital of the Lydian Kingdom, and the first city to use coins of gold and silver. Our visit in Sardis will take us to the amazing ruins of the Temple of Artemis, the picturesque gymnasium, and the synagogue with intact mosaic tile artwork. Return to Izmir for dinner and overnight.
Day 06

Saturday, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Izmir
Today we will travel to ancient Laodicea, a city known for its riches, development of medicines and where church was known for being "lukewarm in belief." Take a short drive to Hierapolis visiting the vast, ancient necropolis (burial grounds), large amphitheater, St. Philip's Church, and framed Roman baths. The white travertine falls and hot springs of Pamukkale are a beautiful secret of nature that we will enjoy today. We will have time for a short devotion in the Laodicea amphitheater. We will return for dinner and overnight in Izmir.
Day 07

Sunday, Ephesus
After breakfast we travel to ancient Ephesus, where we can begin to focus our hearts and minds as walk the massive ruin of ancient Epheesus "the church that has left their first love". Walking the great, marble Ephesian road will take us by the Church of the Virgin Mary - the site of the council of Ephesus- the great amphitheater where the rioters against Paul cried, "Great is the Diana of the Ephesians!" the spectacular and famous Celsus Library, the Agora (marketplace) and the city bath ruins. The remainder of the day will be spent at leisure - swimming in the blue Aegean Sea, relaxing on the beach or by the pool, or staying back at Ephesus and exploring on your own. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
Day 08

Monday, Izmir, Turkey - fly to Athens, Greece: Acropolis, Mars Hill, Plaka area
After breakfast we transfer to Izmir Airport for our short flight to Athens, Greece. We meet our Greek guide and board our motorcoach for our sightseeing tour of Athens, where we admire the architectural miracles of ancient Athens, as you follow your guide to the world renowned Acropolis. There you will see the Propylea, the Erectheum and the Parthenon. We will then visit Mars Hill where Paul delivered hisspeech on the "Unkown God". View the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, you see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and the Neoclassical buildings of Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Day 09

Tuesday: Athens & Corinth
After breakfast we begin our touring and make our way to ancient Corinth. This is the once glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Gospel. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples and the famous Bema, where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. After stopping for lunch, we then drive to Cenchreae, the little harbour from which Paul sailed back to Asia, thus ending his second missionary journey. Back to Athens for dinner and overnight. OPTIONAL ROME EXTENSION: Tuesday, Athens and Corinth & Overnight Ferry to Bari We have sightseeing with the group as listed above Day 09 and then we say our good-‐byes at the end of the day and transfer to Patras Pier for our high speed overnight Ferry to Bari, Italy. Private cabins and dinner is included on board our overnight Ferry.
Day 10

Wednesday: Athens to USA
Depart Athens for return back to USA. We fly back home with a new insight into Paul's life and teachings. OPTIONAL ROME EXTENSION: Wednesday, Arrive Bari, Pompeii, Rome We arrive to Bari, Italy. After our breakfast we disembark and we meet our Italian representative and driver and continue our travel North for Pompeii to visit the spectacular ruins of Pompeii, which were covered by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city remained buried and undiscovered for almost 1500 years until excavation began in 1748. These excavations continue today and provide insight into life during the Roman Empire. We make our way to Rome in time for dinner and overnight.
Day 11

Thursday: Rome, Vatican & Sistine Chapel, Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Forum
Our first visit will be to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, the celebrated Chapel of the Popes and the venue of the Conclaves for Papal elections. It is one of the most splendid masterpieces in the history of world art and is well known around the world for its magnificent ceiling, beautifully decorated by Michelangelo. From here, your next visit will be to the Basilica of St. Peter, the largest church in the world, which overlooks the enormous Piazza San Pietro. We then start our sightseeing of the eternal city. Driving through the main streets of Rome, you will marvel at the monuments of this great capital. Visit the Colosseum, which symbolizes the eternity of the Roman civilization, the Forum and the Piazza Venezia, dominated by the imposing monument to Vittorio Emanuel II. Before wereturn to our hotel, we stop near the Fontanadi Trevi, following tradition by tossing a coin into the fountain,promising the return to Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 12

Friday, Rome, Catacombs, St. John Lateran, Basilica of St.Paul, St. Peter in Chains
Today we enjoy our sightseeing tour, including a special visit to the Catacombs where we will explore tunnels and see the carvings on the walls from early Christians. From here we continue for a visit to St. John Latern, visit the "Sacred Steps" (as a monk, Martin Luther climbed these steps on his knees, trying to merit forgiveness). Afterwards we make a special visit to St. Paul's Church where tradition believes the Apostle Paul is buried. We conclude our day with a stop to see the Forum with visit and St. Peter in Chains. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 13

Saturday, Athens, USA
Morning transfer to Rome Airport for return flight back to the USA; arrive home same day.