Tour the 7 Churches of Revelation of Asia Minor in 5 Days

Tour the 7 Churches of Revelation of Asia Minor in 5 Days

The Seven Churches of Revelations or the Churches of Apocalypse that are in the book of John refer to seven major cities through Western Turkey: Thyatira-Sardis-Laodicea-Philadelphia-Hierapolis-Aphrodisias. All these places provided a relatively safe haven for the Early Christians. For those looking to make a spiritual journey, Turkey cannot be overlooked.

Explore Pergamum, actually called Bergama and is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. We explore the impressive Acropolis and is the steepest theatre in the world. Visit of the most picturesque areas of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4], Sardis which was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC and portrayed as a dying church.

You will venture to the UNESCO-listed Ephesus where you will see one of the worlds best-preserved ancient site and see where Virgin Mary spent her final days at the House of the Virgin Mary.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day

Stop At: Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Dokuz Eylül, 35410 Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
Upon your arrival at Izmir airport or Kusadasi port, our professional guide will meet you with your name sign and help and transfer you to a hotel in Izmir.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Izmir

Day 2: Pergamon – Thyatira – Izmir

Stop At: Pergamon Theatre, Kurtulus Mah. Akrapol Yolu No:2 Bergama Merkez, Bergama, Bergama Turkey
After breakfast, we will drive to Pergamum, actually called Bergama and is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. We explore the impressive Acropolis and is the steepest theatre in the world. Then we will visit Asklepieion an important medical centre of classical times and see the Altar of Zeus, mentioned as the "Throne of Satan" in the book of Revelation.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Red Basilica (Kizil Avlu), Adjacent to the second otogar, Bergama Turkey
See the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan and the Library which was a rival of the famous Library of Alexandria in Egypt where its wealth of volumes was estimated at over 200,000 which inspired an invention of the parchment. We will also visit the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Akhisar, Akhisar, Manisa Province
Visit Thyatira, which is now called Akhisar and is another one of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14] and was a city famous for purple dyes and Lydia, the trader of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. We then visit the remains of a basilica and architectural fragments from the Roman period.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Old Smyrna, Ord. Prof. Dr. Ekrem Akurgal Cad. No: 95, Izmir Turkey
Before we arrive at the hotel in Izmir, we will enjoy a scenic ride of Smyrna and is the third-largest city in Turkey and is one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. This city is scarred with a bloody history of trade and warfare. We then travel to Mount Pagus where you will see the Citadel of Lysimachos and the commander of Alexander the Great was erected in the 4th century BC.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Izmir

Day 3: Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis

Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkey
Today we will depart in the early morning and visit of the most picturesque areas of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4], Sardis which was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC and portrayed as a dying church.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: The Temple of Artemis, Ataturk, Park Ici Yolu No:12, Selcuk Turkey
We visit the magnificent Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which became a Byzantine Church before visiting some ancient Lydian houses, and the restored gymnasium and reconstructed Synagogue.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkey
Then see several meters of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis constructed by Cyrus the Great and also see the golden river Pactolus.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Philadelphia Siesean Kilisesi, Soguksu Mahallesi, Ismet Pasa Cd. No: 114, Alasehir Turkey
Then we continue our travels to Philadelphia, now called Alasehir, another of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:7], and is the only church that is not censured. Here we see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick, with a high arch and some 11th-century frescoes.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hierapolis & Pamukkale, Pamukkale 20280 Turkey
Drive to the healing city of Hierapolis and Pamukkale, which is a white cotton fortress where hot mineral water bursts from the ground and cascades over cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The healing waters were known to the founders of Hierapolis and Laodicea in 190 BC. In Hierapolis, we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli - Pamukkale, Denizli Turkey
Proceed to Laodicea now known as Denizli, also a Church of the Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 3:14] where you will see the ancient theatre, the remains of a basilica and some ancient stone water pipes.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Temple of Apollo, Ataturk Boulevard Yenihisar, Didim 07330 Turkey
We will also visit the Gate of Domitian, the 2nd century AD Theatre, the Arcadian Way, the Nymphaion, the Plutonium, the Temple of Apollo and the Necropolis.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Pamukkale

Day 4: Ephesus - Kusadasi

Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Drive to Ephesus where you will visit the ancient city of Ephesus, including the Basilica of St. John and the Ephesus archaeological museum.

The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians here and lived there for three years, and the church also received an epistle from him.

We tour the splendid ruins where excavations continue in this once great and important city, which was founded in the 10th century BC.

Walk through the long history along the marble streets lined with magnificent public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre.

The Temple of Diana of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city.

Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), Selcuk 35100 Turkey
Visit The House of Virgin Mary, which is claimed she spent her last days before a drive to Kusadasi for an overnight stay.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kusadasi

Day 5: Departure Day

Stop At: Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Dokuz Eylül, 35410 Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Izmir airport for flight back home
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.