Private guided Turkey tours Bursa via Nicaea
Private guided Turkey tours – Depart for Bursa, an old city at the foot of Mount Uludag (Olympus), and the first seat of the Ottomans. After taking a shortcut by crossing the Izmit Gulf by ferry, we will stop by the ruins of St. Sophia, in Nicaea. It was here that the first Ecumenical Council was held in 325 AD under Emperor Constantine to codify the faith. To this day, the Nicene Creed is the only creed of the Christian Church, common to all sects. Lunch at a local restaurant. We drive round the Iznik Lake to Bursa where we visit the ornate Mausoleum of Sultan Orhan and the Orhan Camii, the first Ottoman mosque which was erected in 1413. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.
Bursa – Drive to Pamukkale
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Pamukkale via Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia. We will pass through the modern town of Akhisar, on the site of the old Lydian city of Thyatira. This was one of the towns where Christianity spread rapidly and it was one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Lunch at a local restaurant. In our visit to Sardis, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia, we will see a Synagogue from the Roman Era, a well-preserved gymnasium, and other ruins.
Following the visit to Sardis we pass through Philadelphia – an ancient town rebuilt by Tiberius. Christianity took hold later than in the other towns and in the early days many Christians were martyred. Philadelphia is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Finally, we arrive at Pamukkale where we will see the fascinating limestone formations and cascades. Adjacent is the ancient city of Hierapolis, the home of St.Philip, the apostle. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
n the Book of Revelation .
