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Turkey Biblical Tour 7

Jewish Heritage Tour Istanbul, Priene, Miletus, Ephesus, Sardis, Izmir Tour Date: Guaranteed Year-around DAY 1: En Route Depart the U.S.A. on your flight to Turkey. DAY 2: Arrive Istanbul Arrive Istanbul airport. Meet and greet. Transfer to hotel. DAY 3: Istanbul Morning visit to a Jewish neighborhood, Galata. You will see the Galata tower built by the Genoese in 1303. Visit the local synagogues, Neve Shalom and the Askenazy Synagogue. After lunch, visit the Hippodrome, a 3rd century site, where chariots raced during the Roman period. Visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles and six minarets. Visit St. Sophia, a world heritage site built in the 6th century. DAY 4: Istanbul Depart from hotel for a visit of the Balat neighborhood where you will see the star of David appearing on building facades. Visit the 15th Ahrida and the Yanbol Synagogues. Visit the Jewish home for the elderly along the Golden Horn. After lunch visit the Topkapi Palace, its priceless collection of jewels, and the Grand Covered Bazaar. DAY 5: Istanbul Take a visit to the Egyptian Spice Market, and Bosphorus boat tour, viewing the beautiful palaces and the European and Asian shorelines. After lunch drive over the bridge to the Asian side to visit the synagogues in Kuzguncuk and Uskudar. Then take in the panoramic view of the city from the highest hill in Istanbul, Camlica Hill. DAY 6: Istanbul - Izmir Transfer to Istanbul airport for morning departure to Izmir. Transfer to hotel. Visit one of the local synagogues in Izmir, where the Jewish community dates back more than 2000 years. Visit the castle of Alexander the Great and the Agora. DAY 7: Izmir - Priene - Miletus - Ephesus - Izmir Early morning departure for a visit to two of the ancient Ionian cities with synagogues, Priene and Miletus. Visit the ancient city of Ephesus and its Celsus Library, the theater, the Roman baths, the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world). Return to Izmir for overnight. DAY 8: Izmir - Sardis - Izmir Morning departure to Sardis, the capital of ancient Lydia. View the significant ruins of the Acropolis. Visit the Temple of Cybele and Diana, which later became a church. See the golden river Pactalos and the Royal Road. Then visit the reconstructed Synagogue, the Gymnasium and the new excavation area. Return to Izmir for overnight. DAY 9: Izmir Transfer to Izmir airport for departure. * Rates and availability subject to change without notice. Breakfast Lunch Dinner
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Turkey Biblical Tour - Seven Churches - Sardis

Sardis was on the top of its glory. The Persians made Sardis the capital of the western districts of their empire. They made the city also the western terminal of the Great Postal Road that started in Susa in Elam near the Persian Gulf, where are now the oil fields. This road was so well organized that it took only a week to bring important messages. Alexander the Great defeated the Persians and ancient Lydia, together with all Asia-Minor, was conquered by this Macedonian King. After his death Sardis fell into the hands of the Seleucids of Syria. The Roman Era start¬ed here in the second century B.C... In Byzantine times Sardis became the center of a bishopric. With the arrival and settling of Christianity, one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse was founded here. The town passed into the hands of the Turks.

The most important architectural works that were discovered here were the synagogue and the Gymnasium. Both buildings date from the third century A.D... Other famous ruins are: the Byzantine Church, The House of Branzes, the Roman Stadium, the Roman and Byzantine Baths, and a Theatre built in the Hellenistic times and the Acropolis. The temple of Artemis is situated 2 kms south of the city. An Altar had existed already here since the end of the fifth century B.C... The original Temple of Artemis was built in 300 B.C... It was attached to the before-mentioned altar and had its face to the west. Sardis had reached its zenith. The Sardians were of a very soft and weak character because of their wealth and fertility. Therefore, Sardis was a very suitable place for the Christians to settle.