Footsteps of St. Paul in Anatolia Tour 7 Nights 8 Days

We will meet and transfer to the hotel from airport. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Including Breakfast)
Meet at the airport, transfer to your hotel. And overnight in Adana. 

(Including Breakfast)
After breakfast we will continue to Antioch-on-the- Orontes, Daphne and Seleucia Pieria. Antioch has been founded in 300BC. Antioch offered the most ferric ground for new ideas, philosophies and religions. First to preach here were St. Paul and Barnabas whose extensive efforts proved to be very fruitful for Christianity. Incidentally, the word Christians was first used in Antioch. The strong and wealthy community of Antioch contributed financially to the Christian community of Jerusalem. Highlights include the museum which houses a superb collection of mosaics from Antioch, Footsteps of St. Paul in Anatolia Tour - AdanaDaphne and Seleucia Pieria, St. Peter's Grotto, the cave church came to be known as the meeting place of the early Christians. Visit Daphne. The next site we will visit today is Seleucia Pieria, which was the port city of Antioch in ancient days. The most interesting monument here is the Tunnel of Titus, which is a tremendous canal, dug for the purpose of diverting waters of Orontes River. Another highlight here will be the rock tombs with their impressive facades pertaining to the Hellenistic period. Return to Adana for and overnight.

(Including Breakfast)
After breakfast we will drive straight to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. During St. Paul's time Tarsus was a University City surpassing Athens and Alexandria. Cicero was a governor here in 51-50 BC and the romantic meeting between Cleopatra and Mark Anthony took place in Tarsus. Highlights here will be St. Paul's well, Tomb of Sardanapulus and Cleopatra's Gate. Then we drive north to Cappadocia. This is an underground city, carved into soft rocks resembling a huge labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and passageways. A huge chimney ventilates this 8-levelled dwelling, which was used by Christians hiding from there Roman and Byzantine persecutors. Their colorful frescoes remain as vibrant as when they were first made. Fascinating place... Derinkuyu. Further on we come to Cappadocia whose effect on tFootsteps of St. Paul in Anatolia Tour - Lystra he visitor is like that of a village out of Grimm's Fairy Tales. What Turks commonly call "Fairy Chimneys" are jutting pieces of volcanic rocks that have been beaten and shaped by the wind and rain. Highlights will be The Apple Church, The Church of St. John the Baptist and the Church with a Buckle in Goreme. and overnight in Cappadocia. 

(Including Breakfast)
Right after breakfast, we begin our drive to Konya or ancient Iconium, which became an important Christian city following St. Paul's preaching. A Phyrigia legend says that Konya was the first city to be founded after the flood. St. Paul and Barnabas came here in 47 A.D. and their preaching was accompanied by many miracles. St. Paul made two more stops hereFootsteps of St. Paul in Anatolia Tour - psidia  on his second and third journeys. Today's Konya is quite new but the center of the city is very old. Visit Derbe and Lystra where St. Paul visited on his journeys. and overnight in Konya. .

Early morning we will drive to Psidian Antioch (Yalvac) where St. Paul opened Christianity to the world. Yalvac's history goes back to 280 B.C. During St. Paul's time the population was a Footsteps of St. Paul in Anatolia Tour - Pergemixture of Jews, Romans and Greeks. Very little is left of Psidian Antioch today. There is the propylaea of the acropolis with a number of carved stones and the remains of a Byzantine church. We pass by Egirdir Lake and arrive in Antalya and overnight. Including: Breakfast.

(Including Breakfast)
After breakfast, we take a private boat to Perge, where St. Paul began preaching after arriving from Cyprus. Visit the Gymnasium, the Bath, the Agora, the Theater, the Stadium and the Hellenistic Gate. Continue to Another the Pamphilian city of Aspendus. The Theater is the best preserved in the world with its incredible acoustics. Visit Side, which is built Footsteps of St. Paul in Anatolia Tour - Antalyaexactly on top of the ancient city. See the Temples of Athena and Apollo, the State Agora, the Theater and the Museum. Afternoon return to Antalya. and overnight in Antalya. 

(Including Breakfast)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport for your departure.