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DAY
1 - TRABZON
We will meet upon arrival at Istanbul
airport and transfer you to the domestic
terminal for our flight to Trabzon. Dinner
and briefing at our hotel in Trabzon (D).
DAY
2 - TRABZON
After an early breakfast, we leave our
hotel and drive to Sumela Monastery, which
is set on a rock face, 19 kms. south east
of Maçka. It was founded by two monks,
Varhena and Sofranios by hollowing out
the rock face of the cliff at a height
of 1,300 m. During the reign of the Emperor
Justinian, several additions were made
to the monastery, which was restored in
the 6th century and dedicated to John
the Baptist. Alexis III, King of Pontus
restored the building in 1360 and was
crowned there. The fortress -like monastery
was also named after the Madonna when
the painter Lugas added a Madonna fresco
to the series of frescoes of different
periods to be found here. The monastery
has six
storeys and 72 rooms and a flight of a
hundred steps give access to the monastery.
The frescoes of the monastery illustrated
scenes from the Christian Cycle and the
Old Testament. Return to Trabzon for dinner
and overnight (B, L, D).
DAY
3 - ERZURUM
Leaving Trabzon behind us, we proceed
to Erzurum by way of Kopdağ and Zigana
passes which will give us some magnificent
views of these mountains. Dinner and overnight
at Erzurum (B, L, D).
DAY
4 - KARS
Erzurum is the largest city of Eastern
Anatolia. Highlights are the Çifte Minareli
(the twin Minaret), Yakutiye Theological
School and Taşhan. Çifte minareli is also
called the Hatuniye Medresse. It is one
of the largest Seljuk medresses and dates
to the end of 13th century. After lunch,
we drive to Kars for dinner and overnight
(B, L, D).
DAY
5 - KARS
The city of Kars got its name from a Turco
- Caucasian tribe called Karsaks during
the 1st century B. C. It was held by the
Russians during 1878-1920. For this reason,
Russian influences can be seen all over
the city. We drive east to visit the ruins
of Ani, at a distance of 40 kms. from
Kars. Ani was built by Bagratid Ashot
Msaker, between 806 - 827 A. D. The city
was at its most flourishing days during
the reign of Gagik I, between 900 -1020.
The castle and churches were built by
the Bagratid dynasty except the St. Gregory
of Tigrne Honentz which was built in 1215.
Back to Kars for dinner and overnight
(B, L, D).
DAY
6 - DOĞU BEYAZIT
We drive to Doğu Beyazıt via Tuzluca and
Igdır in the morning and visit the Palace
of İshak Pasha
which stands on the crest of a bridge
overlooking the town of Doğu Beyazıt.
It dates to 1781. The architects is unknown,
but the plan is the tradition of Turkish
palaces, with buildings arranged in a
'U' formation around a pair of courtyards,
an inner and outer court. The portal is
a true ceremonial gate in the Seljuk style.
Dinner and overnight at Doğu Beyazıt (B,
L, D).
DAY
7 - VAN
Following breakfast, we leave Doğu Beyazıt
and drive to Van which was the capital
of the Urartian
Kingdom (900 - 600 B. C.). Patnos, Adilcevaz,
Toprakkale and Çavuştepe near Van, were
the major Urartian cities. We will visit
the Çavuştepe which is composed of two
citadels on a hill
with two summits connected by a saddle
and check in a hotel for dinner and overnight
(B, L, D).
DAY
8 - TATVAN
Today we first visit the archaeological
museum to see the products of the Urartian
metalworking industry and then drive to
Gevaş, a small port on the south shore
of Lake Van. We take a boat to Akdamar
Island where we will visit the church
of Akdamar dating from 915. The exterior
walls of the church quite elaborately
decorated with relieves and it is possible
that this idea was of Eastern origin.
After the visit of Akdamar, we will go
to Ahlat to see the unique cemetery from
the Seljuk period. We drive to Tatvan
for an overnight (B, L, D).
DAY
9 - DİYARBAKIR
We will drive to Nemrud mountain which
is located near a crater lake for a sightseeing,
following lunch, we continue our way to
Diyarbakır (B,L,D).
DAY
10 - MARDİN
We will have city tour of Diyarbakır in
the morning. Highlights will be the fortification
walls, old city gates, the Grand Mosque
and the Church of St. Mary from the 17th
century. In the afternoon, we will drive
to Mardin which is a city on the south
slope of a mountain for dinner and overnight
(B, L, D).
DAY
11 - MARDİN
We will visit the Covered Bazaar in the
early morning then we will go to Deyr-el-Zaferan
and Deyr-el-Umur which are two well-known
Syriac monasteries. We will go to the
Old Persian city of Dara in the afternoon.
Return to Mardin for dinner and overnight
(B, L, D).
DAY
12 - MARDİN
We drive to Midyat where was the silverwork
center of the Syriac settlement during
the recent
years. Most of the Syriac people had moved
from Midyat area to Germany or Istanbul
and their smart stone houses were left
to their fate in the Syriac section of
the town. We will continue our drive to
see the extraordinary settlement of Hasankeyf.
These unique rock shelters will be flooded
soon by the waters of Ilıcasu Dam. Return
to Mardin for dinner and overnight (B,
L, D).
DAY
13 - URFA
We will drive to Urfa and directly visit
the Halil-ül Rahman mosque. Following
lunch, we drive to Harran, referred to
in Genesis (XI, 31,32; XII, 4, 5) as Charan.
Among the ruins, we shall visit, are the
Citadel, the Grand Mosque and the first
university building in the world. The
most remarkable architectural works in
Harran are dome shaped houses constructed
from the mud-brick. Back to Urfa for dinner
and overnight (B, L, D).
DAY
14 - ADIYAMAN OR KAHTA
After breakfast, we proceed to Eski -
Kahta. Highlights of the day are Arsameia
on the Nymphaios, the handsome bridge
of Cendere from the Roman period and Karakuş.
Check-in to our hotel for dinner and overnight
(B, L, D).
DAY
15 - ISTANBUL
We leave very early in the morning to
watch the sunrise from the top of Mount
Nemrud. It will be incomparable to anything
you have seen before. The tumulus and
hierotheseion of Antiochos I Epiphanes
are situated on the summit of Mount Nemrud.
The tumulus, piled with first - sized
stones, is 50 m. high and 1 50 m. in diameter.
It is bounded on the east, west and north
by three terraced courts, hewn from the
living rock. The east court forms the
most important ensemble of architecture
and sculptural monuments. It is surrounded
on the west by colossal statues, on the
east by a pyramidal fire altar, and on
the north and south by low walls composed
of orthostats (upright stone slabs) standing
on a long, narrow base. The orthostats
overlooking the court on the north were
adorned with relieves depicting the Persian
ancestors of Anthiahos, while those on
the south bore relieves portraying his
Macedonian antecedents. The colossal statues
of seated figures overlooking the court
on the east terrace are fairly well-preserved
and reach a height of 08 -10m. Drive to
Adıyaman or Malatya due to a flight schedule.
Dinner and overnight at hotel in Istanbul
(B,L,D).
DAY
16 - ISTANBUL
Transfer (B). |
