Art and History of Turkey

Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Cappadocia, and back to Istanbul

October 17-29, 2010

Day 12. October 28 - Istanbul

 

Transfer to airport having a flight to Istanbul. Today we will explore Underground Basilica Cistern, a Byzantine underground water cistern that supplied the imperial palaces and Chora Church with unique iconographic programme, the quality and beauty of the mosaics and wall paintings, making it one of the most outstanding masterpieces of Byzantine art in the world. Overnight in Istanbul. Good bye dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 02. October 18 - Istanbul

Arrival to Istanbul

Upon arrival meet with tour guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Gather this evening for a Welcome Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 03. October 19 - Istanbul

Today’s included excursions are the Topkapi Palace, unquestionably one of the most famous palaces in the world, noted for its treasures, priceless gems, and artefacts; the Blue Mosque whose interior walls are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles; the Archaeology Museum, winning the Council of Europe’s Museum Award in 1993, the Cinili Kosk “Tiled Pavilion” with the extensive use of blue tile mosaics on its facade; Our sightseeing continues with 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 now a museum. Overnight in Istanbul. (B, L, D)

Day 04. October 20 - Istanbul – Troy – Assos

Drive west to Troy; famous city of Greek legend, on the north western corner of Asia Minor with its 9 different settlements and related 30 cities. Overnight in Assos.

(B, L, D)

Day 05. October 21 - Assos – Pergamum - Kusadasi

Our road takes us to an ancient city Pergamum, once ruled by Alexander the Great. Famous for the invention of parchment paper, Pergamum had a library containing two hundred thousand books. We will visit Acropolis, the Altar of Zeus and the ten thousand-seat amphitheater and marvelous Asclepion, a fourth century B.C. shrine to the healing God Asclepios. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L,D)

Day 08. October 24 - Pamukkale – Konya

The tour continues to Hierapolis, a magnificent natural formation unique all over the world. Over the last fourteen thousand years, calcium rich water from an underground thermal spring has flowed over the mountainside and slowly solidified, creating Shallow White Basins and Twisted Stalagmites. Dinner will be in your hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale. (B, D)

Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)

Alexander the Great

Chora Monastery

Day 09. October 25 - Konya – Cappadocia

After visiting the glorious Mevlana Museum, mausoleum of Mevlana, 13th century poet, a philosopher and mystic of Islam, explore Catalhoyuk, considered as a first and one of the largest and strangest sites of the Neolithic period. Then we journey through lovely Anatolian countryside to Cappadocia where we will spend two nights. (B, L, D)

Day 11. October 27 - Cappadocia

Spend the morning with visiting Avanos, typical Turkish village where you will be amazed by the ceramic art technicques dating from the 12th B.C. to the 3rd centuries B.C.  Our sightseeing continues in Zelve that became one of the most important settlements and religious centers for the Christian community between the ninth and thirteenth centuries; the hidden monastic valley of Pasabagi, which has a large number of carved rock houses and churches. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 10. October 26 - Cappadocia

Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the fascinating Goreme 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 a local carpet coop, where you will get the chance to explore the district from a cultural perspective. Our sightseeing continues with the Underground City of Kaymakli, where around the sixth century, the Christian inhabitants of the region began to tunnel into the soft volcanic rock of large hills. As deep as two hundred and seventy five feet with eight different levels, several thousand people lived in this subterranean city. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, L, D)

Day 13. October 29 - Departure Istanbul

After a farewell breakfast transfer to Ataturk Airport to fly  home.

Ephesus

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Turkey Tour Itinerary

Day 01. October 17

Leave the US on the airline of your choice.

36 HSW Continuing Education Hours accepted by AIA, ASID, IIDA, NKBA and

State Boards of Architecture and Interior Design

including 4 hr of AIA/CES Suystainable Design

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INCLUDES 4 HOUR OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AS APPROVED BY AIA/CES

Turkey Trip Includes:

All transfers

~11 Nights accommodation mentioned below, ALL FOUR STAR hotels or Better.

~ Welcome Cocktail

~ Meet and Greet at the airport

Prices: $4,877.00 per person in double occupancy. (Airfare from & to the US  not included).

$800.00 single supplement.  

Deposit $800.00 per person.

~ Flight Kayseri - Istanbul (One way)

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OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI

for Interior Designers, the course is accepted by ASID, IIDA, NKBA all States Boards of Interior Design,

2009 Tours: Terms and Conditions

The trip was such a success in 08, that we wanted to do it again

Day 06. October 22 -  Kusadasi: Ephesus

Today starts with journey to Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever uncovered. 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 see gymnasiums, baths houses, public latrines, library of Celsius and also Terrace Houses (The Houses of the Rich) whose walls were garnished with frescoes and the floors were decorated with mosaics. Our next stops will be at Ephesus Museum, including two big Artemis statues, head of Eros, little statue of Eros with dolphin, the fresco of Socrates that are some of the world-famous works. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)

Istanbul Germir Palace

Cappadocia: Elkepevi  

Day 07. October 23 - Kusadasi – Aphrodisias - Pamukkale

On the way of Pamukkale explore Aphrodisias, dedicated to Aphrodite. The Sculpture School of Aphrodisias enjoyed great fame and is evident by the fine marble statues and architectural relief scattered throughout the side. You can also see one of the largest (30000 seats) and best-preserved stadium of the classical world. Overnight in Pamukkale.

(B, L, D)

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