15 Days Turkey Christian Biblical Heritage & Historical Journey

Seleucia Pieria & the Titus Tunnel

Seleucia Pieria was the ancient port of Antioch and is traditionally remembered as the departure point for Paul and Barnabas at the very beginning of their First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:4). Stand in a landscape where the movement of the earliest Christian missionaries becomes tangible, then explore the impressive Titus Tunnel, a monumental Roman engineering achievement cut through solid rock, together with the nearby Beşikli rock-cut tombs.

Adana

Continue to Adana for lunch and a short city visit, experiencing another side of southern Türkiye where ancient Cilician history, Ottoman heritage and vibrant modern Turkish life meet along the banks of the Seyhan River.

Tarsus — Birthplace of St. Paul

Continue to Tarsus, traditionally identified as the birthplace of Saul of Tarsus, later the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3). Visit the Well of St. Paul, associated with the apostle's early life, and see the historic Cleopatra Gate, a surviving reminder of the city's long Roman past. Imagine Tarsus as Paul would have known it: a cosmopolitan Cilician city at the crossroads of cultures, religions, languages and trade routes.

Ancient Iconium / Konya

Konya is associated with the missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas; Acts 14 describes their ministry at Iconium, making the modern city an important stop for travelers following the Pauline story through Asia Minor.

Mevlana Museum

Visit the Mevlana Museum, associated with Jalal ad-Din Rumi, the celebrated 13th-century poet and mystic known as Mevlana. Although Rumi belongs to a much later period than St. Paul, his spiritual legacy adds a fascinating additional dimension to the day, and the museum's atmosphere encourages contemplation and reflection on the many layers of spiritual history that have shaped Anatolia.

Karatay Madrasa Museum

Continue to the Karatay Museum, housed inside a 13th-century Seljuk madrasa renowned for its breathtaking tiled dome. The geometric patterns and refined craftsmanship demonstrate the artistic sophistication of medieval Anatolia.

Sille Village & Hagios Khariton

Continue to Sille, a historic settlement that preserves the architectural and religious memory of Christian communities who lived in the region across the Roman and Byzantine periods. Visit the historic Ak Monastery / Hagios Khariton, traditionally associated with the area's Christian monastic heritage — a quiet, evocative contrast to the monumental ancient cities visited elsewhere on the journey.

Pisidian Antioch — Yalvaç

Travel to Yalvaç, site of the ancient city of Antioch-in-Pisidia, an important stop during the First Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:14). Explore the archaeological remains and the Yalvaç Archaeological Museum, standing among ruins that make it possible to imagine this once-thriving Roman settlement, and to consider how the Christian message first entered established urban communities of the interior.

Antalya & the Turquoise Coast

Continue toward the Mediterranean and the beautiful city of Antalya, where turquoise coastal scenery meets a remarkable historical inheritance spanning Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

Perge

Visit ancient Perge, one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in southern Türkiye, through which Paul and Barnabas passed during their missionary journeys. Walk along monumental colonnaded streets and explore the Roman baths, agora, theatre, gymnasium, monumental fountain, ancient gates and necropolis — a scale that makes it easy to understand why the great Pamphylian cities became major centers of trade, culture and religious exchange.

Kaleiçi — Old Antalya

Walk through Kaleiçi, Antalya's atmospheric old town, taking in Hadrian's Gate, the historic Clock Tower, the Fluted Minaret, the ancient harbor and narrow Ottoman-era streets lined with traditional houses and small local shops — a beautiful connection between Mediterranean life and centuries of layered history.

St. Nicholas Church, Demre

Travel along the spectacular coast toward Demre, ancient Myra, to visit St. Nicholas Church, associated with Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century Christian bishop whose reputation for charity and generosity eventually inspired the worldwide tradition surrounding Santa Claus. For Christian pilgrims, St. Nicholas represents far more than a legendary holiday figure — he is remembered as a model of compassion, generosity and Christian service.

Ancient Myra

Continue to Myra, one of Lycia's most impressive ancient cities, and marvel at the dramatic rock-cut tombs carved directly into the surrounding cliffs before exploring the monumental Roman theatre. Myra offers a remarkable visual experience of ancient Lycian culture and Roman urban life, while remaining connected to the wider Christian story of St. Nicholas and the Mediterranean world of early Christianity.

Colossae

Travel to the Lycus Valley and the site of Colossae near modern Honaz, made especially significant by the Epistle to the Colossians. The city belonged to an important ancient regional network alongside Laodicea and Hierapolis, and standing on this quiet mound transforms the words of the New Testament from distant text into real geography.

Laodicea — One of the Seven Churches of Revelation

Continue to Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches addressed in the Book of Revelation. The ancient city once possessed enormous wealth and importance; explore its marble streets, theatres, basilicas, temples, monumental fountains and vast urban remains. The message to Laodicea remains one of Revelation's most memorable passages, particularly its warning concerning spiritual “lukewarmness.”

Hierapolis

Continue to Hierapolis, the magnificent ancient city above Pamukkale, exploring the Martyrium of St. Philip, the Roman theatre, the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium and the vast necropolis. The city's association with the Apostle Philip gives this archaeological site particular importance for Christian pilgrims.

Pamukkale Travertines

End the day among the spectacular white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, formed by mineral-rich thermal waters over millennia. Here, nature and history meet in truly extraordinary fashion, creating one of Türkiye's most unforgettable landscapes.

Philadelphia — Alaşehir

Travel to modern Alaşehir, ancient Philadelphia, remembered in Revelation for its perseverance and faith. Explore the surviving Byzantine structures and imagine the ancient Christian community that once thrived within this prosperous Anatolian city.

Sardis

Continue to Sardis, the ancient capital of Lydia and a city of extraordinary wealth and political importance long before Christianity reached Asia Minor. Explore the Temple of Artemis, the Temple of Cybele, Byzantine church remains, the Sardis synagogue, the gymnasium and the ancient streets. Sardis is especially meaningful for Christian travelers because of the message to its church in Revelation, described as having a reputation for being alive while being spiritually dead.

Smyrna — İzmir

Continue to İzmir, ancient Smyrna, one of the most important cities of the ancient Aegean and one of the Seven Churches. Visit the remains of the Ancient Agora, then continue to the site associated with St. Polycarp, the early Christian bishop of Smyrna and a deeply respected figure in Christian tradition. End the day with an evening walk along Kordonboyu, where modern İzmir meets the Aegean Sea.

St. Polycarp & Early Christian Smyrna

Spend the morning reflecting further on the heritage of St. Polycarp, a major figure of early Christianity whose story connects the apostolic generation with the generations that followed him.

Kemeraltı Bazaar

Visit Kemeraltı Bazaar, one of İzmir's most atmospheric traditional marketplaces — a wonderful opportunity to experience everyday Turkish culture, traditional crafts, local food and daily life.

Şirince Village

Continue toward Şirince, a beautiful former Greek settlement surrounded by olive groves and green hills. Its stone houses, narrow streets and peaceful atmosphere offer a relaxing cultural contrast after several days spent among monumental archaeological sites; enjoy time for photographs, local produce and village exploration before continuing to the Aegean resort town of Kuşadası for the evening.

Library of Celsus & Curetes Street

Walk along the ancient marble streets of Ephesus and encounter the Library of Celsus, one of the city's most recognizable monuments, then continue along Curetes Street, the monumental avenue where temples, fountains, residences and civic buildings once formed the urban heart of the city.

Great Theatre of Ephesus

Stand inside the enormous Great Theatre, where thousands of spectators once gathered and which is also remembered in connection with the dramatic events surrounding Paul's preaching in Ephesus (Acts 19). Nearby, admire the Temple of Hadrian and the Baths of Scholastica, further important elements of Roman urban life.

Basilica of St. John

Visit the Basilica of St. John on Ayasuluk Hill, traditionally associated with the apostle and evangelist, and continue to the remains of the Temple of Artemis — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only fragments survive today, but its historical importance to the ancient city was enormous.

House of the Virgin Mary

Conclude the day at the House of the Virgin Mary, a peaceful pilgrimage site in the hills above Ephesus. Christian tradition identifies this place as a possible final home of Mary, the mother of Jesus, under the care of St. John. The site remains a place of prayer, reflection and pilgrimage, and is an ideal moment for quiet personal reflection before returning to Kuşadası.

Thyatira — Akhisar

Travel to Akhisar, ancient Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches addressed in Revelation. The city is also associated in the New Testament with Lydia, the seller of purple cloth mentioned in Acts 16. Explore the archaeological remains and reflect on the Christian community that once existed within this important commercial center.

Pergamon Acropolis

Continue to Pergamon, one of the most spectacular ancient cities of western Türkiye. Climb toward the magnificent Acropolis to discover the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Trajan, the Great Theatre, the ancient library, the altar area, Hellenistic monuments and the Red Basilica. Pergamon was a major center of Hellenistic culture before becoming an important Roman city, and it carries added significance for Christian pilgrims because Revelation refers directly to the Christian community in Pergamon and its difficult spiritual environment.

Assos

The Temple of Athena occupies the summit of Assos and provides spectacular views toward the sea and the island of Lesbos. Assos is especially meaningful to Pauline pilgrims, since Acts 20 records Paul's own journey on foot between Alexandria Troas and Assos during his Third Missionary Journey — imagine Paul traveling through this very landscape more than nineteen centuries ago.

Alexandria Troas

Continue to Alexandria Troas, an ancient port city mentioned several times in the New Testament and visited by Paul during his missionary journeys, making it an important stop for those following the apostle's travels through Asia Minor.

Troy

Continue to legendary Troy. Although Troy belongs primarily to the world of ancient mythology and epic history rather than biblical Christianity, its inclusion adds an extraordinary additional layer to the journey through Anatolia. Walk among the archaeological remains associated with one of the world's most famous ancient cities, connecting Türkiye to the legendary Trojan War and the epic tradition of Homer, before continuing to Çanakkale for lunch and onward to Bandırma.

Koza Han & the Green Mosque, Bursa

Visit Koza Han, the historic silk market whose courtyards and arcaded galleries recall Bursa's importance on the Silk Road network, then admire the exquisite Green Mosque, one of Bursa's masterpieces of early Ottoman architecture.

İznik — Ancient Nicaea

Continue to İznik, ancient Nicaea. Few places in Christian history possess the significance of Nicaea: in AD 325 the First Council of Nicaea became one of the defining events in the history of Christianity, closely associated with the formulation of the Nicene Creed and the great theological questions concerning the nature of Christ. Visit the historic Hagia Sophia of İznik, associated with the Second Council of Nicaea in AD 787 — for Christian pilgrims, İznik offers an extraordinary, tangible connection with the theological and institutional development of the Christian faith, before continuing on to Istanbul.

Byzantine Theodosian Walls

Begin at the historic Theodosian Walls, the monumental defenses that protected Constantinople for over a thousand years and witnessed the rise, glory and transformation of the Byzantine Empire.

Chora / Kariye

Visit Chora / Kariye, renowned for its extraordinary Byzantine artistic heritage — mosaics and frescoes that represent some of the finest surviving expressions of Byzantine religious art anywhere in the world.

Ecumenical Patriarchate & St. Stephen Church

Continue to St. George's Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in Fener — for Orthodox Christianity, one of the most important living religious centers in the world — then visit the Bulgarian St. Stephen Church, popularly known as the Iron Church, whose distinctive cast-iron structure adds another fascinating chapter to Istanbul's multi-layered Christian heritage.

Bosphorus Cruise

After lunch, board your Bosphorus cruise and glide between Europe and Asia, viewing Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Maiden's Tower, historic waterfront mansions and both continental shores. The Bosphorus provides a spectacular final dimension to the day: a geographical meeting point between continents, civilizations and faith traditions.

Topkapı Palace

Begin at Topkapı Palace, the magnificent residence of Ottoman sultans for more than four centuries. Its courtyards, treasury, gardens and imperial architecture reveal the political and cultural power of the Ottoman Empire at its height.

Hagia Sophia

Visit Hagia Sophia, one of the world's most extraordinary architectural monuments. Originally constructed as a Christian cathedral under Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia became one of the defining monuments of Byzantine Constantinople before later becoming a mosque. Its enormous dome, marble interiors, mosaics and centuries of accumulated history make it one of the most memorable stops on the entire journey.

Hippodrome & Basilica Cistern

Continue to the ancient Hippodrome, once the center of public life in Constantinople, home to the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain. Then descend into the atmospheric Basilica Cistern, the vast subterranean reservoir commissioned during the reign of Emperor Justinian, where rows of ancient columns create a dramatic underground environment unlike anywhere else in the city.

Grand Bazaar

End your sightseeing with the legendary Grand Bazaar, exploring its historic covered lanes filled with Turkish crafts, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, carpets and traditional goods. Please note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays — your final day's schedule will be arranged accordingly by your guide.