Tour of Sacred Turkey

Come on along with Reverend Lucy, a seasoned world traveler and World Peace Ambassador as she travels to Sacred sites in Turkey.

From Goddess Temples to ancient ruins, from lively Istanbul to underground cities, from Fairy Chimneys to museums, she will visit NINE UNESCO World Heritage sites.

If you've been looking for a meaningful dive into a transformative sacred journey, consider coming along!

SITES TO BE VISITED:ISTANBUL: The Hagia Sophia stands as a timeless testament to human ingenuity and cultural exchange, seamlessly blending Byzantine and Islamic architectural elements to create a truly awe-inspiring monument. Initially constructed as a Christian church under the visionary leadership of Emperor Justinian I, its rich history saw it transform into a mosque, then a museum, and once again a mosque. This iconic structure, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, serves as a beacon of unity, history, and architectural marvel for people around the globe.

Yerebatan Underground Basilica The Underground Bascilica Cistern (or Yerebatan Sarayi in Turkish, meaning 'Sunken Palace') is a great underground chamber used in times of siege and is the largest and most beautiful Byzantine cistern of its kind of several hundred lying under the city of Istanbul.

Kariye Museum - The Kariye Mosque is a medieval Greek Orthodox church building, mostly used as a mosque since the 16th century, in the Edirnekapı neighborhood of Fatih district, Istanbul, Turkey. It is mainly famous for its outstanding Late Byzantine mosaics and frescos. The building is an example of Byzantine architecture.

Galata Tower - Galata Tower was the tallest building in Istanbul until the construction of Beyazıt Tower in 1749. During the Ottoman period, Galata Tower functioned as a J*il, observatory house, and watchtower. After the restorations took place in 1960, Galata Tower was commercialized and opened to the public.

Archaeology Museum - The Istanbul Archaeology Museums are a group of three archaeological museums. These museums house over one million objects from nearly all periods and civilizations in world history. Highlights include an 8th-century BC Hittite molding of a rock relief depicting the storm god Tarhunza and a series of large blue-and-yellow glazed-brick panels that once lined the processional street and the Ishtar gate of ancient Babylon.

İZMİR/SELCUK/EPHESUS: Ephesus Museum - The Ephesus Archaeological Museum houses finds from the nearby Ephesus excavation site. Its best-known exhibit is the ancient statue of the Greek Goddess Artemis retrieved from the temple of the goddess in Ephesus.

Ephesus Ruins - Ephesus is famous for its well-preserved ruins, as a Christian pilgrimage site, and as the former site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. According legend, Ephesus was founded by the tribe of the Amazons, great female warriors. The name of the city is thought to have been derived from "Apasas," the name of a city in the "Kingdom of Arzawa" meaning the "city of the Mother Goddess." The ancient city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, added to the list in 2015.

Celcus Library - The Library of Celsus is considered an architectural marvel, and is one of the only remaining examples of great libraries of the ancient world. It was the third-largest library in the Greco-Roman world behind only those of Alexandria and Pergamum, believed to have held around 12,000 scrolls.

Yamaç, or Terrace, Houses - The restoration of two of seven Houses has been completed. The seven luxurious Yamaç Houses have a total of 78 rooms that are decorated with layers of wall paintings. The rooms tend to have been decorated in themes such as an Eros room, a bird room, or plant room. These wall drawings start from the first century and continue to the third century.

Mother Mary's House - Meryem Ana Evi (Mother Mary’s House) by native Turks and among the visitors are the pilgrims who believe the house to be the last earthly home of Mother Mary and the place where she spent her last days until her death. Besides being a tourist attraction, it is an official pilgrimage site for Catholics. The place is under the care of the Franciscan order.

APHRODISIAS: Ancient City of Aphrodisias, named after its patron goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was founded in the 2nd century B.C. on the site of a rural Sanctuary of Aphrodite. A temple is believed to have existed here since at least the 6th century BC – then a spot of veneration for a forgotten indigenous goddess. For hundreds of years, it was an important pilgrimage spot for Aphrodite devotees from both Anatolia and Greece. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, designated in 2017, and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Turkey.

PAMUKKALE: Pamukkale is a town in western Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. Pamukkale is a natural wonder of hot springs and travertines (calcium deposits). The waterfalls cascading down the hillside are genuinely breathtaking. One of Turkey’s most incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites, designated in 1988.

CAPPADOCIA: Derinkuyu is an ancient multi-level underground city which extends to a depth of approximately 280 ft. It is large enough to have sheltered as many as 20,000 people together with their livestock and food stores. It is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey and one of several underground complexes found throughout Cappadocia. The miraculously well-protected and maintained structure has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

Zelve offers the most intense fairy chimney area in Cappadocia, which dates back to 9th century. Until the 13th century, this region was the center of Christian residents and monasteries of monks searching for a calm life. Fairy chimneys on the valley are sharp and wide. In the 1960s, Zelve became an official open-air museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Goreme is a town in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey. Just east of town is the Göreme Open Air Museum, with cave churches and frescoes from the 10th to 12th centuries. Southwest is Uçhisar Castle, a fortification carved into a large rock, with panoramic views from the top. To the north, the landscape at Paşabağ Valley is known for Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, cone-shaped rock formations. a UNESCO World Heritage site

URFA: Göbekli Tepe is regarded as one of the world's oldest archaeological ruins ever discovered and the world's oldest temple. Radiocarbon dating shows that the earliest exposed structures at Göbekli Tepe were built between 9500 and 9000 BCE. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 2018.Karahan Tepe may be the earliest known human village, predating the construction of Göbekli Tepe, and dating to between 9,000-11,000 BCE.

Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum contains remains of Şanlıurfa, Göbekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe, and Harran, as well as findings from the Southeastern Anatolia Project and ruins found in the hydroelectric dam reservoirs of Atatürk Dam, Birecik Dam and Karkamış Dam. Those who visit the Museum will be able to see the oldest known statue of the world.

ADIYAMAN: Nemrut Dağ is a mountain in southeastern Turkey, notable for its summit, where a number of large statues are erected. The name Nemrut Dağ means “mountain of the prophet.” It is one of the highest peaks in the east of the Taurus Mountains and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

Tour price includes following:

* Overnight lodging in 4/5 star hotels;

* 9 overnights on half board basis (Breakfast-Dinner); 11 Lunches;

* English speaking guide available during the entire trip;

* Luxury vehicle with professional driver available during the entire trip;

* 4 Local flights, including transfers;

* All entrance fees to sites, museums, ancient cities, those mentioned above;

* 3 dinners in Istanbul in exclusive restaurants (except alcoholic drinks);

* Minibus in Nemrut;

* Tips in Hotels;

* Prices subject to change should state taxes and/or fuel prices increase more than 15%.

Tour Price does NOT INCLUDE:* Extra expenditures in all hotels

* Souvenirs

* Guide and driver tips

PAYMENT: $1,500.00 USD to confirm your spot on the tour (tour deposit).
Balance due by August 1.

CANCELLATION: Cancellation prior to August 1: $100.00 USD cancellation fee per person; $1,400.00 USD will be refunded. Cancellation August 1 - August 30: 30% cancellation fee per person. 70% will be refunded. Cancellations after September 1: No refunds.

PRICE: Early Bird - Before June 15:
* Per Person in twin/shared room - $4,950.00 USD
* Single Supplement / Private room - add $495.00 USD

Regular Bird - June 16 - July 15:
* Per Person in twin/shared room - $5,450.00 USD
* Single Supplement / Private room - add $495.00 USD

Almost Too Late Bird: - July 16 - August 1:
* Per Person in twin/shared room - $5,950.00 USD
* Single Supplement / Private room - add $550.00 USD

Please call or text Reverend Lucy directly, at 740-272-2560, with questions or to register.

Host or Publisher Spiritual Horizons