ISTANBUL AND CAPPADOCIA WITH 2 DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Not included

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Not included

• Welcome to Turkey, a land where history, faith and culture have been intertwined for thousands of years.
• Upon arrival at Istanbul International Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), our English-speaking representative will receive you with a personalized sign and accompany you on a private transfer to your hotel. Istanbul, the ancient Constantinople, is the gateway to one of the most fascinating biblical pilgrimages in the world. Although today it is a modern metropolis, for centuries it was the heart of Eastern Christianity and the seat of the Byzantine Empire.
• From here we will begin an extraordinary journey through the places where Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint John and the first disciples of Christ preached.
• Remainder of the day free to rest and prepare for this unforgettable Biblical Route through Turkey.
• Accommodation in Istanbul.

DAY 2 ISTANBUL / HISTORIC CENTER Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• After breakfast we will begin our tour of Istanbul, ancient Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years and one of the main centers of world Christianity. From here, much of the Eastern Christian world was governed and important ecumenical councils were held that defined the doctrine of the Church.
• We will visit Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD. For nearly a millennium it was the largest cathedral in Christendom and a symbol of the Orthodox Church. Inside, we will reflect on the splendor of the Byzantine Empire and the role of Constantinople as a bridge between East and West.
• We will continue to the Blue Mosque and the Roman Hippodrome, where much of the political and religious life of the Byzantine Empire unfolded.
• We will conclude our tour at the Grand Bazaar, recalling how Istanbul was for centuries an important meeting point for pilgrims, merchants and cultures from Europe, Asia and the Holy Land.

DAY 3 FLIGHT TO CAPPADOCIA, THE GREAT REFUGE OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS Night: Cappadocia +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cappadocia, one of the most important Christian regions in the world.
• During the 3rd and 4th centuries, thousands of Christians found refuge among these volcanic valleys to escape Roman persecutions. Here monasteries, rock-hewn churches and some of the first monastic communities in history flourished.
• We will begin our visit by touring the Devrent Valley, known for its surprising volcanic formations, and the Pasabag Valley, famous for its spectacular fairy chimneys.
• We will conclude the tour contemplating one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Anatolia.
• Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia.

DAY 4 CAPPADOCIA, LAND OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS Night: Cappadocia +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• Optionally, before dawn, you may take an unforgettable hot air balloon flight over the landscapes of Cappadocia.
• After breakfast we will begin a full-day visit to Cappadocia, one of the most extraordinary regions of Turkey and one of the most important places in the history of early Christianity. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cappadocia amazes with its volcanic landscapes, underground cities and rock-hewn churches. Although it is famous for its spectacular Fairy Chimneys, Cappadocia also holds immense spiritual value.
• During the first centuries of Christianity, thousands of believers found refuge in this region to escape Roman persecutions. Here numerous monastic communities flourished and great figures of the Church emerged, such as Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, known as the Cappadocian Fathers, who were fundamental in the formulation of Christian doctrine and the Nicene Creed.
• Our first visit will be the Göreme Open-Air Museum, one of the most important monastic complexes in the Christian world. Its rock-hewn churches, chapels and monasteries preserve impressive Byzantine frescoes from the 10th to 13th centuries depicting scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary and numerous saints.
• We will continue to the Pasabag Valley, famous for its unique volcanic formations known as Fairy Chimneys, where the first hermits built small chapels and shelters to devote themselves to prayer and contemplative life.
• We will then visit Avanos, a town located on the banks of the Kızılırmak river, known since Hittite times for its pottery tradition. Here we can learn about artisan techniques passed down from generation to generation for over four thousand years.
• We will conclude the tour at the impressive Uçhisar Castle, the highest point in Cappadocia, from where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the valleys and the ancient Christian settlements that marked the religious history of Anatolia.
• Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia.

DAY 5 RETURN TO ISTANBUL, MEETING POINT OF EAST AND WEST Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Dinner included at the hotel

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take the return flight to Istanbul.
• Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
• The remainder of the afternoon is free to stroll through the historic center, discover traditional cafés or enjoy the unique atmosphere of a city where different cultures and religions have coexisted for centuries.
• Dinner and accommodation in Istanbul.

DAY 6 FREE DAY IN ISTANBUL Night: Istanbul +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Not included

• Breakfast.
• Free day to continue discovering the city or take an optional excursion.
• We recommend a Bosphorus Cruise, sailing between Europe and Asia while admiring palaces, fortresses and historic churches.
• You may also visit the Basilica Cistern, the historic Balat neighborhood, famous for its ancient Orthodox churches, the Church of Saint George, seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, or Dolmabahçe Palace.
• This will be an excellent opportunity to explore the spiritual and cultural richness of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
• Dinner and accommodation in Istanbul.

DAY 7 DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL Night: End of services +

BREAKFAST Breakfast included at the hotel

LUNCH Not included

DINNER Not included

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
• This unforgettable Biblical Pilgrimage through Istanbul and Cappadocia comes to an end, a journey through the settings where Eastern Christianity was consolidated, monasticism arose and some of the greatest saints and theologians of the Church lived.
• More than a cultural trip, this experience represents a true encounter with the roots of Christianity and the extraordinary spiritual heritage of Christian Anatolia.
• End of our services.