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Day 1 - Evening
departure from Toronto
Day 2 - Transfer by
private coach to our hotel that has been reserved for three
nights. Welcome dinner. HOTEL ARCADIA
Day 3 - Istanbul - After breakfast we explore the
opulent Dolmabahce Palace. This was the Ottoman sultans'
magnificent new residence which eventually bankrupted the
country. The construction cost five million Ottoman mecidiye
gold coins, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold. Fourteen tons of
gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings. Dolmabahce shimmers
with glass, silk brocade and beautiful carpets. The reception
hall is crowned by the astounding 4.5 ton crystal chandelier
given by Queen Victoria. The palace was home to six sultans from
1856 until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924. Today it has
great meaning for the Turkish people and is visited with deep
respect as the residence of Ataturk, father of the Turkish
nation. Ataturk died here on Nov 10, 1938 and the clocks
are all set at 9.05 to mark the hour of his passing. Our next
stop is the Spice Market with its exotic fragrances. Myriad
colours and textures and the scent of honey and spice make each
display a sensory delight. Merchants have been trading spices
here for centuries and some products have never changed.
After lunch we visit the Blue Mosque (named because of its
priceless blue Iznik tiles). Built between 1609 and 1616, it
comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah (religious school)
and a hospice. Until recently the muezzin or prayer-caller had
to climb a narrow spiral staircase five times a day to announce
the call to prayer but today a public address system is used and
the call can be heard across the old part of the city. Near the
Blue Mosque we see the Hippodrome where chariot races once were
held. This was the centre of sporting and political activity
during both Roman and Byzantine periods so emperors brought
works of art from all over the empire to adorn it. The
3500-year-old Egyptian obelisk was brought to Constantinople by
Emperor Theodosius in 390 AD.
Our final stop is the
fascinating Grand Bazaar (the mother of all shopping
malls). Built in 1450, it is a fascinating maze of 3,000
small shops as well as two mosques, two hammams, fountains, and
many cafes.
Later in the afternoon there
is an optional cruise on the Bosphorus and a visit to the
underground cistern of Yerebatan.
HOTEL ARCADIA Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 4 -
Istanbul - On
today’s tour we discover many Byzantine and Ottoman treasures.
First we visit the Haghia Sophia Museum which was the great
Cathedral of Byzantium. Dating back to 532AD, this
"Cathedral of Holy Wisdom" was the patriarchal church
of the Eastern Orthodox church for 1000 years. In 1453 Mehmet II
conquered the city and his first stop was the Cathedral where,
with his head to the ground, he invoked the name of Allah and
declared the great house of worship a mosque. In 1935 the first
Turkish President, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, solved all disputes
over the Haghia Sophia by declaring the building a museum. Now
the interior glows with shimmering gold, mosaics and richly
coloured rare marble panels.
The highlight of our tour is
a visit to the exotic Royal Topkapi Palace - the luxurious
residence of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th
century. This was a setting for state occasions and royal
entertainments. We see the sultan's harem section and fabulous
treasures including imperial robes and jewels. Behind the gates
of the mysterious Harem the walls are covered with
exquisite Iznik tiles. Cupboards and doors are delicately carved
and inlaid with gleaming mother of pearl. Domed ceilings are
lined in hand painted silk. Our tour includes the palace's vast
treasury filled with priceless objects that were gifts to the
Ottoman sultans. In another area of the palace we find sacred
religious relics. Among these are items which are said to be the
cloak of the Prophet Mohammed, the sword of David, the staff of
Moses and a cooking vessel of Abraham. The boxes, cases and
cloths in which the Holy Relics are kept are each in themselves
dazzling masterpieces made of gold, silver, and decorated with
diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. These religious relics are on
display in a room in which the Koran is read aloud 24 hours a
day by a mufti (no photographs are allowed). HOTEL ARCADIA
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 5 - Istanbul/ Nevsehir/ Cappadocia - This
morning we transfer to the airport for a short flight to
Nevsehir in the Cappadocia region. Cappadocia is the ancient
name of a large region of plains and mountains in the center of
Anatolia. It was here that several ancient highways (including
the Silk Road) crossed and different cultures came into contact
with each other. Over the
millenia forces of erosion shaped an incredible and unique tufa-coned
landscape with fairy chimneys and mushroom-shaped hobbit houses.
For thousands of years men dug into this soft rock to create
dwellings, monasteries, churches and underground cities. Today
we explore Goreme and Urgup with their natural pinnacles and
churches hewn out of the rock and decorated with colourful
frescoes. Many of the frescoes are in good condition after
a thousand years thanks to the dry climate. We tour the region
to see its fairy chimneys, volcanic landscapes, centuries old
rock churches and troglodyte dwellings. Life here at first
seems
primitive but one notes that, after a day of traditional labour
using horse-drawn carts, farmers go home to their Flint-Stone
like cave houses where a satellite dish outside their cave door
brings the latest TV programmes. We visit the open-air museum of
Goreme Valley, a 4th century monastic complex developed by St.
Basil the Great. Many of the Byzantine frescoes here are still
vivid and the stories they tell are fascinating. HOTEL PERI
TOWER Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 - Cappadocia - We have a full day touring in
Cappadocia. Nobody knows who the original inhabitants of
this region were, or who first hollowed out the homes in
the soft rock of these sheltered ravines and odd
"chimneys." But, as a largely barren area, Cappadocia
was bypassed by most armies, making it a perfect refuge for the
early Christians. The natural land formations and huge expanses
of silence are just a part of the mystery of the region. The
soil here is fertile, and, in spite of Turkish
attitude to alcohol, one finds numerous small vineyards. Cappadocia's
wines are well respected and we may have a chance to stop and
sample. Our sightseeing includes the village of Zelve and the
natural citadel of Uchisar which gives us a panoramic view over
the valleys and small villages.
HOTEL PERI TOWER. Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 - Ilhara / Konya - Our first stop today
is at an underground city. It remains a mystery as
to who first started the digging although Hittite artefacts
found here indicate inhabitants as far back as 4,000 years ago.
Later, this underground city was used by early Christians
escaping persecution. They were able to survive for months
underground with facilities including churches, a winery and
ventilation system that extends 10 stories below the surface.
We continue to Ihlara Valley where we have a leisurely 5
km walk (weather permitting) in the beautiful canyon along the
river to Belisirma. Along the way we see some of the Rock Cut
Churches. Just a few of many churches are the Church with
Terraces, the Church That Smells, the Church of the Serpents -
named for the scene showing serpents in the act of punishing
four female sinners. (Women as the source of evil was a common
theme among the monks). For those who prefer not to take
this walk they will travel by coach and meet the group at the
end of the route.
From here we continue to Konya and along the way we visit
the ancient Caravanserai of Sultanhani. In the days when camel caravans plied the trade routes along the Silk Road from the
East, the caravanserais were secure overnight stops (their
distance apart was the distance a camel could travel in a day -
about 20 miles). Travellers were allowed to stay 3 days
free and provided with food, medical attention and a bath.
Wonderful stories must have been told at night around the fires
of far away lands and unknown cultures. This caravanserai, built
in the 1200's, is among the finest and most characteristic of
the Seljuk Turks.
Overnight at Konya HOTEL DEDEMAN Breakfast and
dinner included.
Day 8 - Konya / Antalya - Konya is home of the
mystic sect of Whirling Dervishes and we visit the Mausoleum of
Mevlana (founder of the Whirling Dervishes who believed in the
virtues of dance and music as a means of freeing oneself from
earthly bondage). The whirling rite is also performed as a
folk-lore spectacle and there is usually a chance to see a
performance . We continue to Antalya, a scenic drive descending
through forests with views of the snow-capped Taurus Mountains.
Near the coast we stop to visit the ruins of the ancient
Pamphylian cities of Perge and Aspendos. Once a Hellenistic
settlement which later developed into a thriving Roman city, Perge is a historian's
delight. The city has a long story to narrate with its initial
inhabitants being the Hittites around 1500 BC. Today it is an
important archaeological site because the ruins of the Roman
city provide a complete picture of the Roman past. Perge had a system of
underground pipes, monumental fountains, covered and uncovered
water canals and an exposed pool. At the bath complex we can see
remains of the frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium that were all lined in
marble shipped all the way from Marmara. The under-floor heating
system and furnace are visible. At Aspendos we see the best
preserved Roman theatre in Turkey. We continue to the lovely
walled city of Antalya where we stay for three nights.
HOTEL MARINA Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 9 - Antalya
- After a leisurely start we visit the award-winning
Archaeological Museum with its survey of the great periods in
Pamphylia's history - from the Neolithic, on through the Bronze
Age to Hellenistic and Roman times. This region was the Cradle
of Civilization - inhabited for 50,000 years. The museum is one
of the most important in the Mediterranean region. The
sculpture gallery is marvellous. The ethnographical section
showcases art and craft from Ottoman times. There is a gallery
of Greek and Roman gods and a section on ancient spell-binding
charms. Following the museum visit we have a walk around
Antalya's Old
Harbour to see Hadrian's Gate and the medieval walls. Antalya is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been settled since the
Paleolithic Age. Since there are names of this region mentioned
in Homer's Iliad scholars think that there were indigenous people
called Pamphilio living here around 1200 B.C. Later, the area
was ruled by the Lydian Kingdom, followed by the Persians and
then by Alexander the Great. There is much to see but also lots
of cafes and shops to distract visitors. The afternoon is at
leisure.
HOTEL MARINA Breakfast and dinner included. Dinner
is at an elegant restaurant on the harbour.
Day 10 - Antalya - Day at leisure - The guide will
have suggestions for optional tours. Of course, there is always
the option of browsing through the many shops and exploring the
fascinating old streets of Antalya. Or perhaps an idyllic cruise
on a traditional Turkish 'gulet'. This is a good time to try a
genuine Turkish Bath in a historic "hammam". Men can
visit a real Turkish barber and get a "bride-groom
shave". For those who prefer to explore, old Antalya has
narrow, maze-like streets with latticed over-hanging balconies.
There are secret walled gardens filled with jasmine,
bougainvillea and citrus trees. Stop at a quaint tea shop.
Wander past historic mosques and Ottoman mansions. Have a drink
seated on top of the city wall overlooking the Roman harbour. To
the east and west of the walled old town are extensive parks
with tea gardens that afford a view of the Bay of Antalya.
HOTEL MARINA
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 11 - Antalya / Fethiye - Depart for a
drive along a spectacular route with snow-capped mountains on
one side and the turquoise Mediterranean on the other. This is
the beginning of the Lycian Region. Lycia meant "Land of
Light" and this is the start of the "Lycian Way",
an ancient 500 km trail connecting Antalya to the town of
Fethiye. The earliest historical reference to the Lycians date back to the late Bronze Age (1500 - 1200 BC). It is
known that the Lycians fought against Egypt in 1295 BC (the
famous battle of Ramses II.). In Homer’s Iliad, Sarpedon (son
of Zeus) was king of the Lycians and the courageous leader of
the Lycian contingent that went to assist the Trojans against
the invading Greeks. He was killed after which Zeus had him
carried back to Lycia by Apollo for a hero’s burial. A scene
from a Greek urn painted in about 510 B.C. (now in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York) depicts the lifeless
body of Sarpedon being transported from the battlefield by the
twin brothers Hypnos and Thanatos (Sleep and Death), to be
prepared for a hero's funeral.. His sarcophagus is said to be at
Xanthos. This area has many ancient rock tombs - the landscape
is dotted with fascinating funerary monuments dating back to the
4th century BC and decorated with mythological scenes. The
ancient people seem to have held a belief that the souls of
their dead would be transported from the tombs to the
after-world by a winged siren-like creature and so they often
placed tombs on cliffs to ease the flight. This is a long but
interesting day. We follow the beautiful coastline stopping in
Demre (home of Saint Nicholas) where we visit his church. The
legend of Santa Claus started here when Saint Nicholas (the
Bishop of Myra), in the first half of the 4th century, was said
to have made nocturnal visits to the houses of local children to
leave gifts. If a window was closed he would drop the gifts down
the chimney (so the story goes). We stop at Kas, a quiet
town with narrow streets scented with jasmine flowers and here
we see, in the centre of town amid open-air restaurants, a
classic Lycian sarcophagus. Kas is a tranquil and timeless spot.
Fishermen bring their catch into the harbour, locals gather in
the shade of a tea garden to discuss politics and wealthy
retired Turks investigate the boutiques or sample seafood. The
little town is watched over by a 500 m mountain that resembles a
human figure on its side, hence the name Yatan Adam, which means
sleeping man.
We then continue by bus to the gorgeous Bay of Fethiye
with its dreamy panorama of the 12 islands and peninsulas. Once
the ancient city of Telmessos, today’s Fethiye is perfect for a
stroll along the waterfront. There are an amazing number of
yachts and a working shipyard where the traditional wooden
Turkish gulets are crafted. The old town has traditional houses,
Lycian tombs and a covered market. Try some rich and
fabulous baklava crispy and dripping with butter and honey.
HOTEL YACHT BOUTIQUE Breakfast and dinner included
Day 12 - Fethiye / Bodrum - Telmessos was the
most important city of Lycia, with a recorded history starting
in the 5th century BC. Above the old town are remnants of a
fortress originally constructed during the Hellenistic period
and later used by 11th century
crusader knights. There is a little time to explore and after a
leisurely morning we continue along the beautiful Turquoise
Riviera. In ancient times Bodrum was the city of Halicarnassos. Today,
with its beautiful harbour, it is a chic resort where laws
prohibit buildings more than two storeys high. Our hotel is
located right in the heart of the town facing the harbour. HOTEL
MARINA VISTA Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 13 - Bodrum - In the morning we visit the Mausoleum
of Halicarnasos which was one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. It was a magnificent tomb built between in 350 BC
for Mausolus who was a governor in the Persian Empire. Mausolus
decided to build a city as safe from capture as it was
magnificent to be seen. If his ships blocked a small channel,
they could keep all enemy warships out so his workmen deepened
the city's harbour and used the dredged sand to make protecting
breakwaters. He started to make the city a capital fit for a
warrior prince. On land he paved streets and built houses for
ordinary citizens. He built walls and watchtowers, a Greek–style
theatre and a temple to Ares. He commissioned statues, temples
and marble buildings. But in 353 BC Mausolus died, leaving
Artemisia his wife (who was also his sister) broken-hearted. As
a tribute she built him the most splendid tomb, a structure so
famous that Mausolus's name is now the eponym for all stately
tombs, in the word mausoleum.
We also visit the Bodrum Castle which was built by
Crusaders in the 15th century. Today it offers one of the best
underwater archaeology museums of the world. This museum is not
just a dusty collection of lifeless relics. It is an original,
creative and exciting experience - a trip into a fascinating
past with exhibits that take you back in time into the worlds of
ancient mariners who sometimes met their destiny shipwrecked on
Anatolian shores. If you wondered how Constantine imported a
huge obelisk from Egypt by sea this museum gives you answers.
HOTEL MARINA VISTA Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 14 - Bodrum/ Kusadasi - Today we visit Didyma to see
the Temple of Apollo. Part of the ancient "Sacred Way"
from the Hellenistic era, this temple's oracle rivalled that of
Delphi. To approach it, visitors would follow the Sacred Way
(about 17 km) and make stops at ritual way-stations. At the
temple a priestess, seated above a sacred spring, would take a
ritual bath then enter the inner chapel. Meanwhile, those who
wished to consult the oracle sacrificed outside and choruses
sang hymns to the gods. The priestess sat suspended
over the sacred spring and would dip her foot into the spring
before giving her answer. Her responses were given in prose which were then turned into verse
by the priests. Didyma's fate was probably sealed in 303 AD,
when an oracle advised the Emperor Diocletian to initiate his
persecution of the Christian church. Constantine, who
was sympathetic to Christianity, closed the oracle and executed
the priests.
We continue to Kusadasi where we stay for two nights in a
striking waterfront hotel. The area has been a centre of art and
culture since the earliest times and has been settled by many
civilizations including the Venetians. The Ottomans built city
walls and the caravanserai that still stands today. HOTEL
CHARISMA Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 15 - Kusadasi
- Today is a highlight. We visit Ephesus which dates from the
1st century B.C. and is considered to be the best preserved
classical city on the Aegean. As the capital of Roman Asia
Minor, Ephesus was richly endowed with marble temples and
beautiful mosaics which have been recently uncovered. The
carefully reconstructed facade of the Celsus Library, built c.
125 AD, the agora and the theatre which seated 28,000 people are
fascinating to visit. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary came
here at the end of her life and Ephesus was certainly an
important center for early Christianity. From AD 52–54, Paul
lived in Ephesus, organizing missionary activity and objecting
to artisans selling statuettes of Artemis in the Temple (one of
the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Touring the site with
an expert guide takes us back to the days of the Roman Empire
and earlier ancient times. This is one of the most fascinating
archaeological sites in the Mediterranean and it is estimated
that only about 15% of the site has so far been
unearthed. Our tour includes the "Terraced
Houses" which paints us a vivid picture of the
sophisticated life of the wealthy during the Roman and Byzantine
periods. There are six residential units on three terraces, the
oldest of which dates back to 1 BC. There is the "theatre
room". The owner probably liked theatre performances since
the walls clearly depict scenes from Greek plays
Subject to the museum re-opening after renovation there will be a stop at the Selcuk Archaeological Museum, a
small gem which houses finds from the excavation site and is
best-known for a statue of Artemis retrieved from the temple in
Ephesus. One of the most impressive and illuminating
sections is dedicated to the mother goddess and dominated by two
colossal statues of Artemis.
HOTEL CHARISMA Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 16 - Kusadasi/ Istanbul - We depart for the airport
in Izmir for our flight to Istanbul. The balance of the day is
free in Istanbul.
HOTEL ARCADIA Breakfast and farewell dinner included.
Day 17 - Depart from Istanbul for home.
The tour is accompanied by a Turkish expert in Mediterranean
history and archaeology. There will also be an experienced
Canadian tour escort.
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