7 DAYS ISTABUL – KUSADASI – PAMUKKALE TOUR
Istanbul’s history encompasses three major civilizations of the ancient world: Roman, Greek, and Byzantine, plus the johnny-come-lately Ottoman Empire. And, all that history is visible on almost every street corner with modern buildings built on top of ancient ruins and remnants of ancient walls lining today’s streets. The Bosporus, a waterway famed in the ancient world, provides the backdrop to all that makes Istanbul Istanbul–exotic, Eastern, and yet Western, a magical skyline. Pamukkale, famous for its healing thermal mineral waters, and beautiful snow-white petrified pools and waterfalls; a walk among the ruins of Hieropolis, now famous for its well-preserved Necropolis. Ephesus is one of the Western world’s finest examples of a classical ancient city. Originally a Greek city, built-in 1000BC, it became a center for the worship of Cybele, the Anatolian Mother Goddess. The ruins of today date from the 4th century BC and the city was founded by Lysimachus, successor to Alexander the Great. However, it was under the Romans that Ephesus became a major port on the Aegean. Ephesus played an important role in the spread of Christianity, as two great Councils of the early church were held here, in AD 431 and 449.
