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Turkey Highlights Tour
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Morning departure from Istanbul. Continue to Iznik,
ancient Nicea, with its ancient walls and four great
gates still largely intact. Visit St. Sophia Museum
from the 4th century B.C., the Green Mosque with its
harmonious proportions. Iznik was the ceramic centre
of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th and 17th
centuries, and most of the imperial mosques in
Istanbul such as the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye
Mosque were ornamented with exquisite tiles made in
Iznik. Continue onto Bursa, the first capital of the
Ottoman Empire in the 14th century, and a major spa
centre. After lunch visit Koza Han, the silk cocoon
caravanserai, with shops selling beautiful silks and
brocades. Visit the Ottoman complex to see the Grand
Mosque, the Green Mosque, considered to be one of
the finest examples of early Ottoman architecture,
and the Green Mausoleum, the tomb of Sultan Mehmet
I. This is Bursa' s loveliest building, with its
spectacular tile work. Bursa is also famous for its
textile industry and top quality textile products
are exported to many countries all around the world.
Overnight in Bursa (L, D).
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In the morning to Ankara. After lunch visit the
world famous Anatolian Civilisations Museum and the
Mausoleum of Ataturk. Overnight Ankara (B, L).
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Travel east today from Ankara, to visit the marvellous
ancient Hittite sites of Yazilikaya. You will visit
the two open-air rock sanctuaries where the sunlight
shines directly on the bas-reliefs in the mornings,
and the vast city of Hattusas which was the capital of
the Hittite Kingdom (1400-1200 BC). Continue south to
Cappadocia and overnight (B, L, D).
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Full day excursion in Cappadocia, which will include
the Goreme Open Air Museum with its magnificent
frescoed cave churches, the natural rocky fortress
of Uchisar, Pigeon Valley, the intriguing Kaymakli
Underground City, used by up to 15,000 Christians
who escaped underground to evade persecution, and
Zelve with its fascinating “fairy chimneys”. There
will also be time for shopping in Avanos, with its
excellent pottery and carpets. Overnight in
Cappadocia (B,L,D).
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Today you will be driven south-west from Cappadocia
to Antalya, visiting Aspendos, the best preserved
amphitheatre in the world. Continue to Perge -
originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 B.C.
- with its great theatre, stadium, huge Hellenistic
and Roman gates, and colonnaded street, then on to
Antalya and overnight (B,L).
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Transfer to the airport and end of our services (B).
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