Part 1. Ancient Anatolia

Act I: The hunter-gatherers.

Day 1: We start our visits with the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara which gives the history of Ancient Anatolia, from the hunter gatherers to the Phyrgians. After lunch at the citadel, we drive thru the Parliament House, the Navy, Army and Air Force Head quarters, the Embassies, and visit Anitkabir (i.e. Atatürk s Mausoleum) at the heart of the modern city. OVNT: Ankara.

Act II: The Hittites.

Day 2: After breakfast we head on to Bogazkale-Alacahoyuk National Park, where we will be visiting Hattusas, Alacahoyuk and Yazilikaya. OVNT: Ankara.

Act III: The Phyrgians.

Day 3: After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Gordion, which is 80 kms West of Ankara. As we drive back, we take the evening flight to Izmir, from where we will be transferred to Kusadasi. OVNT: Kusadasi/ Selcuk.

Part 2. Greek & Roman Anatolia.

Act I: The Greeks.

Day 4: We start with our visit to Ephesus, then we visit Mother Mary s House, and St Jean s Basilica. OVNT: Kusadasi/ Selcuk.

Day 5: We spend the day visiting the Panionian cities Prienne, Milletus, then the temple of Apollo at Didyma, and end with the Corinthian style Zeus temple at Euromos. OVNT: Selcuk.

Day 6: We drive to Pamukkale, famous with its calcerous terraces, visiting Aphrodisas en route. OVNT: Pamukkale.

Act II: The annexations and the Romanization.

Day 7: Today we head on to Kalkan, giving en route visits to Letoon, the sanctuary of Lycia, and Xanthos, the capital of the Lycian Federation. OVNT: Kalkan.

Day 8: We drive to Antalya giving en route visits to Myra, the church of St Nicholas, and the Sunken City at Simena. OVNT: Antalya.

Day 9: We visit Perge, the capital of ancient Pamphylia and then Aspendos, the world s best preserved ancient theatre. We end the day at Antalya Archeological Museum. OVNT: Antalya.

Act III: The Christian persecution.

Day 10: We drive to Cappadocia; the land of the fairy chimneys, and we give an en route visit to the Mevlana Museum at Konya. OVNT: Cappadocia.

Day 11: After a geological introduction at the Valley of Imaginations, we visit Zelve Open Air Museum and the Valley of Monks. Lunch will be served at an Old Greek House at Mustafapasha Village. In the afternoon we visit Göreme Open Air Museum and the Underground City at Kaymakli. OVNT: Cappadocia.

Part 3. Turkish Anatolia

Act I: From the pioneers to the rising of the Selcuks.

Day 12: As we leave Cappadocia, we drive East and stop at Kayseri to visit the Hunat Hatun Mosque, Döner Kümbet and the Esme Hatun Mosque. After lunch at a local restaurant, we drive to Sivas and spend the rest of the day at leisure there. OVNT: Sivas.

Day 13: We leave the hotel after breakfast and visit the Gök Medrese, Ulu Camii, Cifte Minareli Medrese, and take the evening flight to Istanbul. OVNT: Istanbul.

Act II: The formation of Turkish Art and the Ottoman climax.

Day 14: Visit the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, the Basilica Cistern. OVNT: Istanbul.

Day 15: Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. OVNT: Istanbul.

Act III: The Republic.

Day 16: Today we visit the state museum of paintings and sculpture that show us the arts performed in the last century, the Republic period. OVNT: Istanbul.

Day 17: Day at leisure. OVNT: Istanbul.

Day 18: Fly home.