The Catholic Heritage of Türkiye (10 Days)

Day 1 | Arrive in Istanbul – Istanbul Overnight

Afternoon: Late afternoon, arrive at Istanbul International Airport. We will be greeted and assisted by your guide. Gather luggage and transfer to our private luxury motor coach and we will be on our way to the hotel for check-in. Dinner at hotel and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 2 | Istanbul – Istanbul Overnight

After breakfast, we will celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Anthony. Full day city tour including the great Byzantine Imperial Cathedral of St. Sophia Museum. Built originally by Emperor Justinian in 532-537 AD, St. Sophia was originally the largest church in the Christian world. Built by Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, St. Sophia took six years to complete. It was repaired in 558 A.D after the earthquake of 556 ruined the dome. Today, the beautiful Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy testify to the spiritual beauty and harmony of both religions. Visit Hippodrome, the chariot races and athletic events took place on the Hippodrome during the Roman period. The first of the seven hills on the promontory was the most important and dynamic part of the city throughout its history. The important buildings and monuments of the Roman era were built in the vicinity of the Hippodrome, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the Walled Obelisk. Independent lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Blue Mosque, famous for its magnificent interior with blue tiles and 6 minarets. Continue to Topkapi Palace Museum to enjoy the dazzling displays of the Treasures of Ottoman Sultans, and the porcelain collection, which is unique in the world. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 3 | Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise – Evening flight to Antalya – Antalya Overnight

Morning Mass in private room before breakfast, or Mass at the Church of SS. Peter and Paul. Buffet breakfast at hotel. Today, we will have a full day tour in Bosphorus and two Continents. Explore the city’s past wonders and present attractions. The centerpiece of this tour is an easygoing cruise down the Bosphorus, the river that separates Europe and Asia.

Complement your cruise with highlights on both sides of the divide. Sample Turkish Delights at the Spice Bazaar and step back into Turkey’s past at Dolmabache Palace. Independent lunch. Continue to Istanbul Airport for our flight to Antalya. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 4 | Perge – Aspendos – Antalya Overnight

Morning Mass in private room before breakfast. Buffet breakfast at hotel. Today, we will visit the vast Roman site of Perge, where St Paul is said to have preached his first sermon. Here are the ruins of a huge theatre with impressive marble relief work, fountains, a colonnaded steam bath and basilica. Nearby is the well-preserved amphitheater at Aspendos, which the Romans designed so brilliantly that natural acoustics allow someone sitting in the furthest seats to hear a person speaking in a normal voice down in the orchestra area. We will also see the aqueduct that brought water from the mountains to the city. After our visit, we will return to Antalya and visit the excellent museum containing early Christian icons and Roman tombs with some of the best examples of Roman sculpture of Asia Minor. Return to our hotel in Antalya. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 5 | Pisidian Antioch – Konya – Konya Overnight

After breakfast, we will leave Antalya to Pisidian Antioch ((three-hour bus ride). Upon arrival, we will visit Pisidian Antioch, now the modern city of Yalvac, visited by St. Paul on his first missionary journey. Independent lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue to Konya (two and half-hour bus ride), where we will celebrate Mass at St. Paul’s Church. Check in to our hotel in Konya. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 6 | Konya – Lystra – Cappadocia – Cappadocia Overnight

After breakfast, we will celebrate Mass at St. Paul’s Church in Konya. After Mass, we will visit Iconium (Konya), where Paul preached and encouraged believers during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:1-6). We will continue to visit Lystra, where a mob stoned Paul during his first journey (Acts 14:6-19), and where Timothy joined him during the second journey (Acts 16:1-3). Return to Konya to visit the Mevlana museum with the history of Whirling Dervishes. Independent lunch in Konya. In the afternoon, we will continue to Cappadocia. Check-in to our hotel (one and half hour bus ride). Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 7 | Cappadocia – Kaymakli – Cappadocia Overnight

Depart the hotel early in the morning. We will have light breakfast at the location of the Balloon. (This time is also best for softer winds). In the morning, we will take Hot-Air Balloon Ride Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most fanciful and recognizable landscapes, and during this hot-air balloon flight, we’ll soar over its amber terrain and fairy-tale chimneys, savoring a unique panorama in the quiet, rosy light of dawn.

Return to our hotel for Mass in private room and then have breakfast at the hotel. Late morning, we will visit Kaymakli Underground City. During the Hittite era, as successive armies swept across Asia Minor, underground cities were built as a uniquely defensible community, approximately eight stories underground. We can explore some of the hundreds of rooms, wandering the many narrows, sloping passageways between kitchens with enameled food storage areas, water cisterns, stables, and living spaces—all well-ventilated by air shafts. At one time, several thousand people lived here. Following our underground city discovery, we’ll see more of this scenic area of Cappadocia. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 8 | Cappadocia – Tarsus – Adana – Adana Overnight

Morning Mass in private room, or afternoon outdoors in Tarsus. After breakfast, we will drive to the famous Goreme “open-air museum”, a group of ancient churches carved from the rock. Most of these chapels have colorful frescoes inside, which date from the tenth to the 13th centuries. We will leave Cappadocia to Tarsus (three- and half-hour bus ride). Independent lunch enroute to Tarsus. At Tarsus, we’ll visit the birthplace of St. Paul. Continue to Adana for hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 9 | Adana – Adana Overnight

After breakfast, we will board our touring bus drive to the Mediterranean city of Iskenderun founded by Alexander the Great. See crusader castles perched on hilltops on the way to the biblical city of Antioch, known as Antakya, today. Celebrate Mass at the Grotto of St. Peter, believed to have been built by the Apostle Peter as the first Christian Church. It was in Antioch that the word “Christian” was first coined. If conditions permit, we will visit the Museum of Roman Mosaics to see the second largest collection of classical and Roman mosaics in the world. Independent lunch. Then, we will see Selucia Pieria, the ancient port of Antioch from which the Apostle Paul and Barnabas embarked on their first missionary journeys as chronicled by Acts (Acts:13:4). Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 10 | Departure Adana Airport

Morning Mass in private room. After breakfast, we will be transferred to Adana Airport for our return flight home.