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 centre 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 check-in 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)