Seven Churches Tour

**Day 1 – Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia & Hierapolis** This morning we will take a flight from **Istanbul to Izmir Airport**, where our guide will welcome you. Our first visit will be **Thyatira**, one of the **Seven Churches of Revelation** mentioned in the Bible. We will continue to **Sardis**, the ancient capital of the powerful **Lydian Kingdom**, where we will explore the impressive remains of this once-rich city and visit the site of its ancient church. Next, we will visit **Philadelphia**, another one of the Seven Churches, and learn about its important place in early Christian history. In the afternoon, we will continue to **Hierapolis**, the ancient city of **Pamukkale**, famous since ancient times for its natural **thermal waters**. After exploring the ancient site, we will check into a **thermal spa hotel in Pamukkale**, where you can relax in the warm mineral waters. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 2 – Laodicea, Ephesus & House of the Virgin Mary** Today we will begin with **Laodicea**, another important city of the **Seven Churches of Revelation**. We will explore the ancient ruins and learn about its role in early Christianity. Then we will drive to **Ephesus**, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. During our extensive tour, we will walk along the ancient streets and visit the **Great Theater**, where we will read from the **Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 19**, which describes important events connected with Saint Paul and Ephesus. We will also visit the **Church of Mary**, where the **Third Ecumenical Council** was held in AD 431. After leaving Ephesus, we will drive up the nearby hill to the peaceful **House of the Virgin Mary**, believed by many to be the last home of Mary, the mother of Jesus. After lunch, we will visit the **Basilica and Tomb of Saint John**, where we will learn about the life of the apostle and read from his **Gospel**. At the end of the day, we will drive to **Kusadasi** for our overnight stay.

Day 3 – Smyrna & Pergamon** Today we will continue our journey through the **Seven Churches of Revelation** with a visit to **Smyrna**, the ancient name of modern **Izmir**. Here we will learn about **Saint Polycarp**, one of the early Christian martyrs and an important figure in the history of the church. After our visit, we will drive to **Pergamon**, another important city mentioned in the Book of Revelation. After lunch, we will explore the magnificent **Acropolis of Pergamon**, where you will see the remains of the ancient **Pergamon Kingdom**, including its famous theater and temples. We will also visit the **Red Basilica**, an impressive Roman monument connected with the early Christian history of Pergamon. After completing our tour of the **Seven Churches**, we will transfer to **Izmir Airport** for our flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel.