A wonderful adventure!
TREASURES OF ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA & the Ancient Greek Cities of Ephesus & Troy
September 1-12, 2008

Discover sites important to the heritage of Western Civilization on this great adventure to Istanbul and the fascinating cave city at Cappadocia. We will also visit the two greatest Greek sites on the Aegean Coast of Turkey, Ephesus and Troy.

L E A D E R S H I P

Leading the expedition will be Inci Turkoglu. Inci received her PhD in Ancient History and an MA in Byzantine Art, and has been leading specialty study tours throughout Turkey since 1993. She coordinates the “Jewish Heritage of Turkey Certificate Program” for professional tourist guides, as well as teaching art history and archeology at the Tourism Guiding Department at Istanbul Aydin University. Inci combines her specialization in Jewish Heritage, Byzantine studies, and Turkish-Islamic Art to continue publishing articles, papers and presentations of her own as well as research, translation and editorial work for numerous publications. Her languages include English, German, French and Italian. Inci looks forward to sharing her knowledge of ancient archaeological and historical sites enabling you to have a marvelous time discovering the treasures of Turkey.

I T I N E R A R Y

Day 1 - DEPART FOR ISTANBUL
Depart New York’s JFK International Airport on a nonstop flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.

Day 2 - ISTANBUL
Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Time for rest and leisure. In the evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner. Germir Palas Hotel, Istanbul (3 nights). (D)

Day 3 - ISTANBUL - TOPKAPI PALACE
We will devote the entire day to sightseeing in Istanbul. First of all, we will stop at outstanding Topkapi Palace, once home to the great Sultans. It is filled with treasures and antiquities including twelve thousand pieces of fine Chinese porcelain. Then we will visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1609 by Sultan Ahmet. The interior walls are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles. Our sightseeing continues at the excellent Archaeology Museum with displays on Troy and Assos, followed by a visit to the Underground Basilica Cistern which supplied water to the imperial palaces. (B)

Day 4 - ISTANBUL - HIPPODROME & ST. SOPHIA
This morning, we will explore the Hippodrome and Basilica of St. Sophia, which has inspired architects and religious leaders for over fifteen hundred years. Constructed in 326 by Constantine the Great, it has been a cathedral, a mosque, and is now a museum. In the afternoon we explore Chora Church, including 14th Century Byzantium Mosaics and amazing frescos; and Suleymaniye Mosque which was built for Suleyman the Magnificent by the great Ottoman architect, Sinan. (B)

Day 5 - ISTANBUL TO CAPPADOCIA
Today we will take a short flight from Istanbul to Kayseri near Cappadocia. We will explore Kultepe, the site of the Ancient Kingdom of Kanesh and then drive to the Rock-cut Monastery at Eski Gumusler. Hotel Alfina, Cappadocia (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 6 - CAPPADOCIA
Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the fascinating Göreme Valley. The lunar-like landscape of this region is eerie, yet beautiful. Over thousand of years, the rain has eroded this landscape to give rise to strange rock formations known as "Fairy Chimneys". Many of these have homes and churches carved into them. Some of the grottos are magnificently decorated with colorful frescoes depicting biblical scenes. Then visit the carpet cooperative to learn about this important local industry. Your sightseeing continues with Asikli Hoyuk, the earliest settlement in Anatolia. (B, D)

Day 7 - CAPPADOCIA TO KUSADASI
Spend the morning visiting a typical Turkish village, Avanos, to see the techniques of ceramic art date from the 12th to 3rd century BC. We’ll watch the villagers make the pottery, which is quite interesting! We will enjoy a tour of the Underground City of Kaymakli built by the Christian inhabitants of this region tunneling into the soft volcanic rock of a large hill. Transfer to Kayseri Airport for a direct flight to Izmir on the Aegean Coast. Kalehan Hotel, Kusadasi (2 nights). (B, D)

Day 8 - KUSADASI & EPHESUS
Today’s excursion goes to Ephesus, the largest ancient city uncovered in Turkey. Ephesus was also a port city linking Sardis to Susa. Once populated with three hundred thousand people, it has an enormous amphitheater, which can still hold twenty four thousand spectators. As we walk down the marble covered streets, we will see the Temple of Artemis (Diana) which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. WE will also see the Ephesus Museum with some world-famous works and the Basilica of St John. (B, D)

Day 9 - KUSADASI – PERGAMUM – ASSOS
Today our road will take us to the ancient city of Pergamum. Famous for the invention of parchment paper, Pergamum had a library containing two hundred thousand books. We will visit the Acropolis, the alter of Zeus and the ten thousand-seat amphitheater. At the Pergamum Museum see the 4th century BC kuros, an early example of realism of the sculpted human form. Then visit marvelous Asclepion, a fourth century BC shrine to the healing God Asclepios. A winding road will take us to the sacred center of Asklepios. Here, mud and hot baths were used as a therapy. Drive to Assos to spend the night in a charming stone hotel dating from Greek time which was used as a caravanserai. Nazlihan Hotel (2 nights). (B, D)

Day 10 - ASSOS & TROY
This morning we will visit Assos and the village Behramkale, in a gorgeous setting overlooking the Aegean and the island of Lesbos. The rugged summit at Assos is surrounded by an impressive wall. Here the spectacular Temple of Athena was built in 530 BC. It is the only surviving example of Doric architecture in Anatolia. We will also visit Troy, one of the oldest discovered sights in Asia Minor with 9 different settlements and 30 related cities, including the symbolic wooden Trojan horse commemorating the legendary war. (B, D)

Day 11 - ASSOS - BURSA - ISTANBUL
Today we will visit Bursa the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. See the fifteenth century Grand Mosque, one of the most striking examples of Ottoman art and visit the Green Ottoman Complex before continuing to Istanbul. Germir Palas Hotel, Istanbul (1 nights). (B, D)

Day 12 - ISTANBUL - USA
After a farewell breakfast transfer to Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport for our Turkish Airlines flight to New York, arriving the same day. (B)

$2,795 + air