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Enchanting Cilicia

Cultural Tour
About The Tour
Cilicia was an early Roman province located on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The region includes the areas of Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye, and Hatay. Cilicia is extended along the Mediterranean coast east from Pamphylia to the Nur Mountains, which separates it from Syria. North and East of Cilicia lie the rugged Taurus Mountains that separate it from the high central plateau of Anatolia, pierced by a narrow gorge called the Cilician Gates in antiquity.  
Visit five cities in 8 days (3 nights in Istanbul – 2 nights in Hatay – 1 night in Adana - 1 night in Mersin).  
With this 7-Night & 8-Day program, you'll have the chance to explore the historical city of Istanbul, witness the melting pot of cultures in enchanting Cilicia, discover Hatay, the queen of the East; visit Adana, the heart of Cilicia and explore Mersin, the pearl of the Mediterranean coast.
Day 1 Istanbul "Old Town Tour"
Arrive at Istanbul airport, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. Have a short rest and set off to the Old Town of Istanbul. Visit Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmet Square, the German Fountain, the Hippodrome, the Million Stone, the magnificent Hagia Sophia, and Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as Blue Mosque. Discover Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, and enjoy strolling in the Egyptian Market known as Spice Market. The daily tour finishes at Galata bridge. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  
Day 2 Istanbul "Bosphorus Boat Tour"
Breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby at 9:00 am and set off for an approximately 30-minute drive to Eminönü. Bosphorus Tour's boat departure time is at 10:20 am. You'll get a panoramic view of the Bosphorus, the waterway which separates Istanbul into two parts, the European continent and the Asian continent. During the Bosphorus cruise, you'll see Dolmabahçe Palace's ornate seaside entrance gate, which the sultans used. Maiden tower, Çırağan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the fortress of Rumelihisarı, and old wooden villas (called Yalı) along the seaside are some of the pearl grains adorning the strait which joins Marmara and the Black Sea. The boat trip will take approximately 90 minutes. You will have two hours in a cozy fisherman village called Kavak to walk around and have lunch. Take the boat, and our trip will end at Eminönü. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  
Day 3 Istanbul “Dolmabahce Palace and Taksim Square & İstiklal Street”
Kindly note that group visits to Dolmabahçe Palace is organized by reservation; according to our reservation schedule, the morning program might switch to the afternoon program.
Breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby, and set off for an approximately 30-minute drive to Dolmabahçe Palace, an ornate blend of European and Ottoman architecture that rests along the banks overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. The Armenian architect Balyan family built the palace in the 19th century. Discover eye-popping rooms that once hosted sultans and their royal guests, stroll into pristine marble rooms, and gaze up at twinkling crystal chandeliers. All the clocks in the palace were set at 9:05 am, the exact time of the death of the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who passed away on the 10th of November 1938 in this palace. Arrive at Taksim Square, the city's heart, and have lunch. In the afternoon, discover the Beyoğlu district, where during the Ottoman period, Jews from Spain, Arabs, Greek, and Armenians settled in communities. The pedestrian street, Istiklal Street, once known as Grande Rue de Pera, is lined by late 19th-century apartment blocks and European embassy buildings. An old-fashioned tram travels the length of Istiklal Street. The daily tour will end in front of the Tunnel, the underground funicular system. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  
Day 4 Istanbul →Hatay
Early breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Hatay (90-minute flight). Hatay, the city where three dive religions unite in harmony, is known as a queen for the East. Antakya was founded as Antioch in the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus Nicator, one of the four generals of Emperor Alexander the Great. The city is the 3rd largest city of the Roman Empire and an important Christian center. The town is split in two by the Asi River, known in ancient times as the Orontes. Have a traditional lunch in the city center. Visit St Peter's Grotto. This cave church is thought to have been founded by St Luke. It is named after Peter, who was at the forefront of the early church movement from his headquarters in Antioch. This cave church is where St Peter preached for the first time, and the congregation used the Christian name for the first time. Visit the Archeological Museum and walking tour in the city, and notice mosques, churches, and a synagogue close to each other. set off to Harbiye waterfalls (a 30-minute drive). Anciently called Daphne, it is a beautiful gorge where the Romans built Apollo's temple. Dinner at Harbiye waterfalls. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Hatay.  
Day 5 Hatay
Breakfast in your hotel and start exploring the area. Visit Vakıflı köyü, which consists of 35 households; it is the only town in Turkey whose entire population is Armenian. Visit St Simon Monastery. This monastery, constructed in the 6th century A.D., is recognized as the place where Saint Simon of Antioch had lived on top of a column for 40 years. There are remains of cisterns, houses, kitchens, and cellars. set off to the Mediterranean Sea coast, and have lunch at a seaside restaurant. Visit Vespasianus -Titus Tunnel. It is an ancient water tunnel built for Seleucia Pieria, the port of Antioch (old Hatay), in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D.  It was made by digging the rocks using the workforce only. The construction began in Vespasian's period and continued during his son Titus' time. The Tunnel was added to the tentative list in the UNESCO World Heritage Site cultural category in 2014. Walking tour in the Tunnel and see rock graves, Beşikli Mağara. Transfer to the city center and have free time in the Bazaar to discover the narrow streets, watch the preparation of local desert "künefe" and taste it, stroll in shops selling daphne soaps, etc... Overnight Hatay.
Day 6 Hatay → Adana
Breakfast at the hotel and set off to Bakras Castle (a 30-minute drive). Bakras Castle is believed to have been founded in the 10th century A.D. by the Byzantines. set off to Payas, a fortress settlement during the Crusader period. Visit the Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Complex, which is Mimar Sinans's one of the best works built in the 16th century. set off to Anavarza Castle, a 1-hour drive. The castle had been made to control the ancient city with the same name. The town's remains (on the plains) lie between the village and the court. The Crusaders built the donjon in the 12th century. They are heading off to Adana (1-hour drive). Adana lies in the heart of Cilicia. It's an agriculturally productive area with the fertile plain of Çukurova. The Seyhan River (formerly called the Sarus) passes through Adana, and the Seyhan reservoir surrounds the city's north. Have lunch. Adana cuisine is influenced mainly by Yörük, Arabic, and Armenian cuisine. Spicy, sour, and fatty dishes made of meat (usually lamb) and bulghur are common. You are walking tour of the old town. Taşkoprü is a stone bridge spanning the Seyhan River, built-in 120-135 AD by the Romans, and has 21 arches. The historic Clock Tower, located in the old town, was designed by two Armenian architects and constructed during the Ottoman era. A mansion built in the 15th century, Ramzanoglu Hall is not far from the clock tower. Ulu Cami, built in the 16th century, is the most interesting medieval structure with black and white marble windows and Iznik tiling ornaments. In the old town, there are Armenian, Greek, Catholic, and Roman Catholic churches. St. Paul Church is a Roman Catholic Church. The church was built as an Armenian Apostolic Church in 1870 and handed over to the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia in 1915. The church currently serves the Catholic and the Orthodox Community of Adana. The 2.5-meter-high bronze statue of Mary resembled a baby to the people walking by, and the church became known as the "Church with Baby" (Bebekli Kilise). Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Adana.  
Day 7 Adana → Mersin
Breakfast in your hotel and head to famous writer Yaşar Kemal's Cultural Center. The Center comprises two theatre halls, a conference hall, and three exhibition halls. Drive to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul (45-minute drive). The historic city center holds several buildings of interest: The Roman-era Cleopatra's Gate, the monumental remnant of the ancient city's system of defensive walls, the Church Mosque, St. Paul's Well, and the narrow streets with historic houses. set off to Mersin, known as the pearl of the Mediterranean coast. It's an important hub for the economy, and Turkey's largest seaport is located in the city. Have a traditional lunch and visit Soli, the ancient town and port in Cilicia. Continue to Kanlı Divane, the old city dating back to the third century and houses basilicas built of cut stones, streets, rock tombs, olive oil workshops, and cisterns in the main settlement area around a giant sinkhole. set off to Adamkayalar (the Man-rocks). This site lies on the southern slope of the Taurus Mountains. Seventeen human figures, dating from the 2nd century A.D., are carved into nine niches. On the pediment are also Roman eagle figures (Aquila).Transfer to your hotel in Kızkalesi town. Overnight Kızkalesi.
Day 8 Mersin → Istanbul
Breakfast at your hotel and visit the Sea Castle ruins on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. set off to Heaven and Hell Sinkholes in the Taurus Mountains. It is possible to reach the bottom of Cennet by a primitive staircase of 300 steps. In this cave, you'll see the ruins of a monastery built in the 5th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Visit Silifke Asthma Cave. Explore the natural cave formations with stalactites and stalagmites formed over thousands of years; the air inside the cave is good for asthma patients. Have lunch in Narlıkuyu. set off to Adana airport (2-hour drive). (Adana - Istanbul flight duration is 75 minutes).

Enchanting Cilicia

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