WONDERFUL Türkiye AND ITALY

WONDERFUL TURKEY AND ITALY

17 DAYS / 16 NIGHTS

Departures: Saturdays

Minimum 2 people

Day 1: SATURDAY – Istanbul

Arrival and welcome by our representative at Istanbul Airport. Transfer to the hotel.

OPTIONAL: Bosphorus Cruise by Night: Includes dinner, 2 local alcoholic drinks, folklore show, and DJ

Day 2: SUNDAY – Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia (B, L, D)

Breakfast. Departure for Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey, passing through the Bolu Mountains. Arrival and visit to the Mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Completed in 1953, it is an impressive fusion of ancient and modern architectural styles. Visit to the Independence Museum, which houses a wax statue of Atatürk, his writings, letters, and personal belongings, as well as a photo exhibit and recordings about important moments in his life and the establishment of the new Turkish Republic. Lunch. Departure for Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, we will visit a pottery workshop and then go to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: MONDAY - Cappadocia (B, L, D)

OPTIONAL: At dawn, you will have the opportunity to participate in an optional hot air balloon excursion.

Breakfast. After breakfast, visit this fantastic region with its fascinating and unique landscape formed by lava ejected from the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will then stop in Esentepe to photograph the beautiful Göreme Valley. Visit the valleys of Amor, Devrent, Avcilar, and Guvercinlik, which feature spectacular "Fairy Chimneys." Afterward, we will visit one of the onyx and turquoise jewelry workshops. Lunch. Visit to a troglodyte city, either Uchisar or Cavusin. Stop in Avanos, famous for its clay pottery, which has been the city's livelihood. We finish at one of the typical carpet workshops to learn about the making of this centuries-old Turkish tradition. Dinner at the hotel.

OPTIONAL: Possibility of attending a folk dance performance, the famous "Turkish Night," in a typical cave with unlimited regional drinks.

Day 4: TUESDAY – Cappadocia - Pamukkale (B, L, D)

Breakfast. Early departure via Konya. Stop at an ancient 13th-century caravanserai that was part of the old Silk Road. Lunch and continuation to Pamukkale, a spectacular and unique place in the world for its dazzling white waterfalls and natural pools. Its name translates from Turkish as "cotton castle." Nearby is Ancient Hierapolis with one of the largest necropolises of antiquity. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: WEDNESDAY – Pamukkale – Ephesus – Izmir (B, L, D)

OPTIONAL: Opportunity to take a hot air balloon flight over Pamukkale.

Breakfast. Continue to Ephesus, an ancient Greco-Roman city and one of the best preserved today, where we will visit the Temple of Hadrian, Temple of Trajan, the Theater, the fabulous Library of Celsus, etc. Lunch at the restaurant of the railway museum, which can also be visited. Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last years of her life. Opportunity to visit one of the typical leather factories. Arrival in Izmir. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: THURSDAY – Izmir – Bursa – Istanbul (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Ulü Camii Grand Mosque with its 20 domes and 2 minarets, and the old Silk Bazaar where you can admire antiques, silks, perfumes, pashminas, and more. Continue to Istanbul. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 7: FRIDAY - Istanbul (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the colorful and aromatic Spice Bazaar, specializing in dried fruits, spices, and typical products. At the Eminonu port, we will board a boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus (the strait separating Asia and Europe), where you can admire the beautiful Ottoman villas, the palaces of Dolmabahce, Ciragan, and Beylerbeyi, the Rumeli Hisari fortress, and more. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 8: SATURDAY - Istanbul (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day for personal activities.

OPTIONAL: Ottoman and Byzantine Tour: Visiting the old city where the most outstanding Ottoman and Byzantine monuments are concentrated. We will begin with a visit to the ancient Roman Hippodrome, where highlights include the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the German Fountain. Afterwards, visit the famous Blue Mosque, the most important mosque in Istanbul and, until 2016, the only one in the world with six minarets. Continue with a panoramic tour to take photos of the world-famous Hagia Sophia, a symbol of Istanbul and one of the masterpieces of Byzantine art. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 (you can enter it on your own later). We will also visit Topkapi Palace, the famous and gigantic complex from which the Ottoman Empire was ruled for almost 400 years. Finally, your guide will take you to the Grand Bazaar. Free time for shopping.

Day 9: SUNDAY - Istanbul – Milan (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight (not included). Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the city and visit its magnificent Duomo and Galleria Vittoria. Overnight stay.

Day 10: MONDAY - Milan - Lake Garda - Verona - Venice (B)

Buffet breakfast. Departure for Sirmione on Lake Garda, where you can enjoy its beautiful scenery and have free time for lunch. (Lunch included in the Plus Package P+). Continue the journey to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Free time to stroll through its historic center. Late afternoon arrival in Venice, located on an island and crisscrossed by its famous canals. Overnight in the surrounding area.

Day 11: TUESDAY - Venice (B)

Buffet breakfast. Departure for a walking tour of the city, ending at St. Mark's Square, and including a visit to a workshop of the famous Venetian glass. Free time for lunch in the city. (Lunch included in the Plus Package P+). You can take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy a gondola ride through the Venetian canals. (Gondola ride included in the Plus Package P+). Overnight.

Day 12: WEDNESDAY - Venice - Padua - Florence (B)

Buffet breakfast. Departure for Padua, where we will have free time to visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony. Continue to Florence, the most beautiful city in Europe, renowned for its architectural and artistic treasures. Overnight stay.

Day 13: THURSDAY – Florence (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will explore the city's artistic center, including the Duomo, Giotto's Campanile, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Church of San Lorenzo, Piazza della Signoria, and the Loggia dei Lanzi, ending at the Ponte Vecchio, the city's former commercial center. (Lunch included in the Plus Package P+). This afternoon, we suggest visiting the renowned Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo's David among its masterpieces. Overnight stay.

Day 14: FRIDAY – Florence – Siena – Assisi – Rome (B)

Buffet breakfast and departure for one of the most comprehensive days of our trip. Shortly after, we will arrive at Siena's Piazza del Campo and relive the beautiful sights of the famous Palio horse race held there every year. We continue our journey to Assisi, the city of Saint Francis. Free time for lunch and to visit the Upper and Lower Basilicas. (Lunch included in the Plus Package P+). Continue to Rome. In the late afternoon, we will take a tour of illuminated Rome (during the spring and summer months, due to the late sunset, visits will take place while it is still daylight) to admire the full splendor of the city and its beautiful monuments. Overnight stay.

Day 15: SATURDAY – Rome (B)

Buffet breakfast. Departure for an optional detailed tour of the Vatican, including its museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. (Vatican Museum visit included in the Plus Package P+). After the Vatican visit, we will take a panoramic tour of the Eternal City. After our visit, we suggest enjoying a delicious lunch at a typical Italian restaurant. (Lunch included in the Plus Package P+). In the afternoon, there is an optional opportunity to explore Baroque Rome. Overnight stay.

Day 16: SUNDAY – Rome (B)

Breakfast. Free day in Rome.

OPTIONAL: Full-day tour to visit the beautiful city of Naples and the Island of Capri.

Day 17: MONDAY – Rome - Return (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

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