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Day 1: Arrive Istanbul
Arrive Istanbul Airport. Meet and transfer to
the hotel. Orientation Tour & Briefing.
Day 2: Istanbul
Full day Istanbul sightseeing. Visit the Hagia
Sophia Museum (built in the 6th Century, once
the largest Christian church in the world); the
Topkapi Palace (Imperial Residence of Ottoman
Sultans, with displays of priceless world-class
collections of artifacts, jewelry and rare
porcelain); the Blue Mosque (unique with its 6
minarets and famous for its blue Iznik tiles);
the Hippodrome Square, where ancient chariot
races were held; and then visit the world famous
Grand Covered Bazaar.
Day 3: Istanbul - Troy - Canakkale
Drive to Gallipoli, the site of the First World
War, through the European lands of Turkey. Cross
the Dardanelles strait by ferryboat; then visit
ancient Troy; see its legendary walls and the
replica of the woodenhorse. Overnight in
Canakkale.
Day 4: Pergamon - Izmir
Visit the Acropolis, the steepest theater of the
ancient world, the Temple of Trojan, Library,
Asclepion, the ancient healing center and the
Red Basilica which was the Egyptian Temple of
Serapis, which was later converted into one of
the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Evening at
leisure. Overnight in Izmir.
Day 5: Ephesus - Izmir
Drive to Selcuk. Visit the House of the Virgin
Mary; ancient Ephesus, the Archaeological Museum
and the Temple of Diana (or Artemis) which is
one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World.
Return to Izmir for another overnight stay.
Day 6: Sardis - Hierapolis - Pamukkale
Drive to Sardis, the capital of ancient Lydia.
Visit the Temple of Cybele which later became a
church, the famous Synagogue from the 3rd
Century; the Gymnasium and the new excavations
area. See the Golden River Pactalos. Proceed to
Pamukkale to visit Hierapolis. Overnightin
Pamukkale.
Day 7: Konya (Iconium - Cappadocia)
Early departure to Konya. Visit the Mevlana
Museum, 13th Century Whirling Dervish Monastery.
After lunch, continue to Cappadocia where nature
has scoured surrealistic moonscape shapes and
where the persecuted Christians dug underground
cities and churches during the 9th Century.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 8: Cappadocia
Full day Cappadocia visit, including Goreme Open
Air Museum. Avanos the pottery making town , the
natural citadel of Uchisar and the underground
city of Kaymakli. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 9: Cappadocia - Hitite Museum - Ankara
Drive to Ankara. Visit the Agzikarahan
Caravanserai from Selcuk period on the way. Then
visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (also
called Hittite Museum) and Mausoleum of Kemal
Atatürk. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 10: Ankara - Hattusas (Bogazkale) -
Yazilikaya - Corum
Drive to Bogazkale to visit the famous Hittite
city Hattusas from 2,500 BC.
Then visit the
unique ancient reliefs in Yazilikaya. Proceed to
Corum for an overnight stay.
Day 11: Participants Full Day Work at
ALACAHOYUK Excavations
Day 12: Participants Full Day Work at
ALACAHOYUK
Excavations
Tonight Farewell Dinner with Ankara
University
members in Ankara
Day 13: Transfer to Ankara Airport for
departure.
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From Alacahoyuk |
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From Alacahoyuk |
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The
Hittite Dam unearthed at the site in
2003 is 3200 years old and in
amazingly good condition. Built by
the Hittites, the dam is considered
to be an "engineering marvel" by the
experts.
The Hittite dam at Alacahoyuk is
Asia Minor's first and world's
second(first is in Egypt) oldest
known dam. After the restoration,
the dam will regain its function of
3200 years ago and be used for
irrigation again. This type of
project is the first of its kind in
Turkey. |
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