The Footsteps of St. Paul (Turkey, Greece & Italy) with FR. RANDY MARQUEZ, OSJ

Upon your arrival, you will meet the local representative. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Have some rest after your long flight. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Visit to Blue Mosque, the most interesting and fascinating mosque in Istanbul. Next to the Blue Mosque lies the Hippodrome, the major centre of horse races, chariot rallies and all sorts of sporting events during the Byzantine era. St.Sophia, the ancient basilica built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the greatest architectural marvels of all the time. Then we will enjoy Bosphorus Cruise and experience the magnificent view between Asia and Europe. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Drive to Istanbul Airport and fly to IZMIR. Then transfer to ancient Smyrna. Smyrna was the second and one of the seven Christian churches in Asia Minor to which St. John the Divine wrote (Revelation l - 11). Then continue to Pergamon (Bergama). Visit the Acropolis with its pagan temples and Altar of Zeus. Continue to the healing center, Aesculapius. Overnight in Izmir.

Today, we will visit the Outlet Leather Factory & Center and watch the live fashion show of leather jackets. Then, we will continue to visit the House of the Virgin Mary, spectacularly situated above the ruins. Thereafter, we enter Ephesus, once the commercial center of the ancient world. See the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Temple of Artemis. Also visit the Church of St. John ‘s Basilica, which was erected in Byzantine times over the site of the Apostles tomb. Overnight in Kusdası.

Drive toward Pamukkale. We will visit the Textile Shopping. Continue to explore the antique city of Hierapolis, where calcareous thermal springs descending over cliffs have created a fascinating travertines in the form of white terrace and basins, also known as the Cotton Castle. After dinner, we may relax and enjoy soaking into an authentic thermal bath at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Early departure to Konya. We will stop to visit one of the largest caravanserais in the world, Sultan Hani Caravanserai. It was made in Seljuk Time and was used as an accommodation for the people, especially merchants, and as a defence for trade ways which was the first insurance system those times. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Early morning optional hot air balloon ride. Today starts with Love Valley, where you can discover the spectacular rock formations and magical fairy chimnies. We will also visit the Carpet School. Thereafter, visit Pasabaglari (Monk's Valley) where you can see chimnies with multiple stems and caps, peculiar to this area. Then, drive to Avanos, the town famous for potteries from Hiities period. After lunch, we drive to Devrent Valley to see the fairy chimnies with mushroom and animal shapes. Then proceed to Urgup and Ortahisar rock-cut castle to view the old Greek house which was built in 1800’s. Proceed to Goreme Open Air Museum to visit the churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys from the 10th to the 13th centuries with frescoes painted on the walls. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Visit Cavusin, an old Greek village, known for its Christian houses and churches. Then visit Uchisar Castle, where storage caves can also be observed. In the afternoon visit Kaymakli Underground City where early christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back, visit the panoramic Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyard. You may also like to taste Cappadocia wine in a local winery. Then transfer to Kayseri Airport and fly to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, transfer to the hotel for check-in and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul Airport for our flight to Athens. Meet in the arrival’s hall at Athens airport and with an official English-Speaking Guide proceed on your Half Day City Tour. Pass by Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Athens Academy, the University, the National Library, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the Parthenon. See the Mars Hill or Aeropagus. Lunch at a local restaurant. Free time for shopping in the city centre. Dinner at a locl restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Athens.

Breakfast in the hotel. With an official English-Speaking Guide proceed on your Full Day Corinth Tour. Drive west, along the coastal highway, the Apollo coast and stop to see the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. Continue to and visit Ancient Corinth. See the Bema, the Temple of Apollo, the remains of the Agora, and Pyrene Fountain. Pass by the port of Cenchreaes from where St. Paul departed on his journey. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at a locl restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Athens.

After early (or boxed) breakfast and check-out at the hotel, transfer to the Athens Port and take a ferry ride going to Santorini. Lunch on Ferry on your own account. Meet at Santorini port and with an English-Speaking Assistant proceed on your Oia Tour. Depart for the traditional village of Oia which is located on the northern tip of the island, high on the cliff top. Oia hosts the most magnificent views on Santorini and a picturesque road with cliffs on one side and sea on the other leads to this attractive village typical of Santorinian architecture with houses sunk deep into the volcanic soil, their whitewashed walls and blue domes sparkling in the sunlight. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Santorini.

Breakfast in the hotel. With an English-Speaking Assistant proceed on your Full Day Island Tour. Drive to the picturesque village of Megalochori. Head up to Prophet Elias, the highest point of the island, for a short stop for photo shooting and viewing – only from outside (no entrance is allowed) – in the monastery. See the black beach of Perivolos or Perissa. Pass by Pyrgos village. Visit a local winery for wine tasting. Visit Fira the capital town of the island. Wandering through the white cobbled streets of Fira a town of about 2000 inhabitants one gets the feel of the old-world charm blended in with the modern-day comforts and Gold Street. Have a lovely round trip cable car ride. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Santorini.

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Santorini port and take the Speed Boat to Athens. Lunch and Dinner on Ferry on your own account. Arrive at Athens port of Piraeus and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Athens hotel.

Breakfast and check-out. Transfer to Athens Airport and fly to Rome via istanbul. Upon arrival in Rome, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Rest of the time is free at your own. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. We will have a guided tour to visit the San Paolo Alle Tre Fontane (St. Paul at the Three Fountains) located at the Tre Fontane Abbey. Then continue to visit the Church of Domine Quo Vadis and the Basilica San Paul Outside the Walls. Continue to Piaza Navona, and to Pantheon. Then proceed to visit the Saint Augustine Basilica. Dinner at a local restaurant before transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Early check-out. Attend the General Papal Audience (if available). Visit the St. Peter Square. Have a half-day guided tour to visit the the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, and the Holy Steps. Visit also the Catacomb Domitilla. Transfer to Rome airport for your flight back to Manila.

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