Ancient Ionia

Day 1 | Tuesday 31 March
Arrive Istanbul

Individual airport transfers to our hotel in Istanbul will be arranged by Academy Travel. In the early evening, we meet for arrival drinks and introductions before enjoying a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Istanbul (D)

Day 2 | Wednesday 1 April
Istanbul

Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium – layers of empire have shaped the identity of Turkey’s most famous city, and we begin our day with a walking tour of Sultanahmet, the heart of Istanbul’s old city, including two of its most iconic landmarks – the ancient Hippodrome and the Hagia Sophia. With a history spanning 1,500 years the Hagia Sophia, once the largest Cathedral in the world and now a Grand Mosque, is one of the city’s most sacred and historic sites, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture which now stands as a symbol of peaceful coexistence between two religions at the heart of Sultanahmet Square. We then venture beneath the city to tour the Byzantine Basilica Cistern. Built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Constantine I, the perfectly symmetrical columns of this vast underground chamber, breathtakingly backlit and reflected in the water, make for an almost ethereal experience. After lunch together in a local restaurant, we have the option of visiting Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 60 covered streets and over 4,000 shops – a much-treasured part of the city’s heritage. Overnight Istanbul (B, L)

Day 3 | Thursday 2 April
Istanbul

We devote the first half of the day to the sumptuous Topkapi Palace in the city centre. Originally called the New Palace, it was renamed Topkapi, the Turkish word for “cannon gate” referring to its location which was close to a cannon foundry and was important for defending the city. Built in the 15th century, Topkapi Palace served as the administrative centre and residence of the Imperial Ottoman court up until 1958, its stunning royal apartments and Harem known for their intricate architecture and beautifully tiled chambers, providing fascinating insights into the private lives of the Ottoman Sultans. After free time for lunch, we will then pay a visit to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of ancient Greek and Roman artefacts. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy Istanbul at your leisure. Overnight Istanbul (B)

Day 4 | Friday 3 April
Izmir

We have an early departure this morning for our flight to Izmir, arriving in the early afternoon. After checking into our hotel there will be free time to freshen up before we embark on a walking tour of Konak, the heart of the city. Konak’s history dates back to ancient times and its development over the centuries has been shaped by various civilizations, from ancient Greeks to the Ottoman Empire, with each era leaving its mark on this dynamic district. This evening we enjoy dinner together in Izmir’s historic bazaar. Overnight Izmir (B, D)

Day 5 | Saturday 4 April
Smyrna

The ancient city of Smyrna was once one of the most illustrious of all Ionian cities, serving as a vibrant centre for commerce, law and the arts. Its most renowned ancient resident, Homer, lived there in the 8th century BCE and is celebrated for his epic masterpieces, the Iliad and the Odyssey. We enter the ancient Greek world as we devote our morning first to the city’s Ionian archaeological ruins, in particular the magnificent temple of Athena, which dates back to the 7th century BCE. After a break for lunch, our perspective shifts as we delve into Smyrna’s ancient Roman history with a visit to the Agora, which was founded in late 4th century BCE, immediately after the reign of Alexander the Great. Now an open air museum, you can walk amongst the marble ruins of a bygone era, in particular its Basilica, a large covered walkway which once served as a marketplace and meeting area, adorned with impressive columns and arches. We return to Izmir in the afternoon, where you have an evening at leisure to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Overnight Izmir (B)

Day 6 | Sunday 5 April
Clazomenae, Çeşme and Chios

Departing Izmir for Chios today, we first stop enroute in Clazomenae – an ancient Ionian Greek city with a rich history dating back to 4,000 BCE. On arrival, we will have a chance to explore the atmospheric ruins of this once great city, from the remnants of its Archaic harbour to parts of its original fortifications. Clazomenae is also home to the oldest olive oil-producing workshop in Anatolia, dating back almost 3,000 years, and we will spend time learning about this ancient practice, which still holds the oldest surviving example of a level and weights press from an ancient Greek city. We then continue on to the resort town of Çeşme, or Erythrai as it was known in ancient times. Once a strategic port for the Ionian League, the cityscape, which flows down to the blue Aegean, is a remarkable cultural mosaic formed over the centuries by various empires. After exploring the town and enjoying a lunch of traditional Turkish cuisine together, we take the ferry across to the Greek Island of Chios, where after checking in to our hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Chios (B, L)

Day 7 | Monday 6 April
Chios - A Culture of Tradition

Chios has a rich and varied maritime history, once playing an integral part in the Ionian Revolt and the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BCE. We begin our day with a visit to Mastichori – the southern region of Chios and the only place in the world that grows a specific type of mastic gum, a unique property that contributed to the island’s prosperity. Our first stop is the Sanctuary of Apollo Fanaios, a significant religious site within the Ionian region which lies on a low hill overlooking the sheltered bay of Fana. After a morning coffee (a must in Greece) in the charming medieval square of Pyrgi, we continue to the Chios Mastic Museum, set in the stunning surroundings of Mastiha trees, providing the unique products that have shaped the island’s history. We then pause for a lunch break in the charming medieval village of Mesta before visiting the Ancient Emporio. Perched atop the lush hill of Prophet Elias with sweeping views across the Aegean, the Ancient Emporio  features a remarkably preserved Megaron as well as an altar of the Temple of Athena. Time (and weather) permitting, you may even like to swim in the warm waters along the shore of Mavros Gialos Beach, famed for its black volcanic sand and pebbles. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon, where the evening is at leisure. Overnight Chios (B)

Day 8 | Tuesday 7 April
Chios - Island Charm

Known as Chora, the historic labyrinthine stone streets and charming stone houses of this medieval city centre are a testament to the island’s centuries of heritage. We begin our day with a walking tour of the old town, visiting the Church of St Nicholas and the Koraes Central Public Library, one of the largest and oldest in Greece, dating back to 1792. We also pay a visit to the imposing Medieval castle (or Kastro) situated in the picturesque and unique part of the town, also called the Turkish neighbourhood. Looming over the city, the castle has stood like a stone sentinel since the 10th century and still bears the imprints of the Greek, Genoese and Ottoman civilisations who have controlled it. The afternoon will be at leisure – you may wish to further explore the beauty of the town, visit its charming shops or simply sit in one of the many terraced Tavernas and soak up the island life. Overnight Chios (B)

Day 9 | Wednesday 8 April
Chios - Layers of History

Our morning begins with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Chios, which houses an impressive collection of artefacts dating from the Neolithic period to the Roman era. Next, we board our coach, making our way to the heart of the island to the stunning Nea Moni Monastery, one of Greece’s oldest religious sites. Established in the 11th century by Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX, it was once among the richest monasteries in Greece, housing over 800 monks at its height. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to admire the remarkable examples of Byzantine religious architecture and the magnificent gold mosaics that have endured despite the devastation wrought throughout the centuries. We then stop for lunch in the picturesque town of Avgonima, a charming time capsule in itself, before moving on to the now deserted medieval Byzantine Tower village of Anavatos. Anavatos means “Unassailable” and as we traverse the town as it plunges into the granite rock of the 400-metre high hillside, we will see why, as we have a chance to explore its preserved stone buildings, a feature of the town which helped camouflage it from Ottoman invaders. Returning to our hotel in the late afternoon, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Chios (B, L)

Day 10 | Thursday 9 April
Samos

We have an early start this morning, taking the ferry across to the nearby island of Samos. With its verdant hills, mountains and fertile soil, Samos was once a prominent centre of Ionian culture – by the 6th century BCE, it had become a major maritime power in the Ionian region, with close trade links with Asia Minor and Mainland Greece. After checking into our hotel, a short walk to Vathy Archaeological Museum takes us back through the centuries with its collection, which includes archaic sculpture and artefacts. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the town of Vathy, and we reconvene in the evening for dinner together in a local restaurant. Overnight Samos (B, D)

Day 11 | Friday 10 April
The Heraion

This morning sees us make our way to one of the island’s most important ancient Ionian archaeological sites – the Heraion. This vast sanctuary of the ancient world, dedicated to Goddess Hera, was built between 570 and 560 BCE on a site that had been sacred for many generations. The temple is one of the finest examples of Ionian architecture and was described by Herodotus in his Histories as “The largest of all the temples known to us”. Here, we will have time to explore the site’s many archaeological treasures, including a stunning single colossal Ionic column in the northeast corner and other preserved ancient sculptures which have made Samos one of the great centres of sculpture in the Ionic world. A short journey by coach then takes us to the Tunnel of Eupalinos, drilled by hand in the 6th century BCE to carry water from the springs on the far side of Mount Kastro to the city, and was considered to be one of the major feats of engineering of the ancient world. We continue on to the nearby town of Pythagoreion, the location of ancient Samos, where we will enjoy a lunch featuring the local cuisine, before returning to our hotel. Overnight Samos (B, L)

Day 12 | Saturday 11 April
Across the Aegean

We return to Pythagoreion this morning for an in-depth tour of its archaeological museum. Housed in the newly constructed building at the centre of the city of Pythagoreion, the museum’s collection includes finds from the Neolithic settlement of Kastro and the Geometric necropolis of Samos, as well as an important group of Archaic and Roman sculptures and limestone and marble stele. On return to Samos, the afternoon is at leisure before we take an early evening ferry across the Turkish coast, which brings us to the seaside town of Kuşadası. Upon arrival and after check in to our hotel, we will enjoy a brief orientation walk of Kusadasi before ending the day with dinner together in a local restaurant. Overnight Kuşadası (B, D)

Day 13 | Sunday 12 April
Ephesus - The Jewel of Ionia

While undeniably charming, Kuşadası also serves as the perfect starting point for a visit to one of the most renowned cities of the ancient Ionian world – Ephesus. Our morning is spent exploring this breathtaking archaeological site, once a vital port that facilitated trade between Asia Minor, North Africa and Europe. According to legend, it was founded in the 11th century BCE by the Ionian prince Androclos, who searched for a new Greek settlement on the advice of the Oracle of Delphi. Our time here will take in the Temple of Artemis, the impressive Library of Celsus and the remarkably preserved open-air theatre. We will also have the opportunity to visit the on-site Ephesus Experience Museum, a state-of-the-art immersive journey that brings the history of Ephesus to life. We then continue on to the quaint town of Seljuk for lunch before embarking on the second half of our day, with a visit to the archaeological site of Priene, which lies on the Aegean coast of Turkey and was once an important member of the Ionian league. Incredible imprints of this once important centre of maritime trade still remain, from its well-preserved Council Hall to the evocative ruins of a once great Temple of Athena. On return to Kusadasi in the late afternoon, the rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight Kuşadası (B, L)

Day 14 | Monday 13 April
Pearls of Ionia

We spend our final day on the Western Anatolian coast immersing ourselves in ancient Ionia, first visiting the archaeological site of Miletus, the Pearl of Ionia. Once the unofficial capital of Ionia, Miletus is an important thread in the tapestry of the ancient world, mentioned by Homer in the Illiad, and famed for its four harbours which contributed to its wealth and prestige, and we devote the morning to exploring what remains of this once great city. We then continue on to Didyma, an important religious site in Ionia, and home to the fourth largest temple in the ancient Greek world – the Temple of Apollo. Known as the Didymaion (didyma meaning ‘twin’) this temple is the ‘twin’ sanctuary to the Temple of Artemis of the nearby city of Ephesus and was considered to be one of the Wonders of the Ancient World. As we traverse its magnificent ruins, we will see the traces of the once great Oracle of Apollo, which rivalled Delphi – people from all over the ancient world, from the humble citizens to great Roman Emperors, flocked to Didyma to pray and to hear their destiny foretold by the oracle. We return to Kuşadası in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Kuşadası (B, L)

Day 15 | Tuesday 14 April
Istanbul

We depart the glorious coastline early this morning, returning to Izmir for our flight back to Istanbul. Arriving in the early afternoon, you may wish to spend our final day visiting the Sultan Ahmed or “Blue Mosque” which has faced the Hagia Sophia since the 17th century and is considered to be one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in the country. A short walk from our hotel also takes you to the Arasta Bazaar, a traditional and lively street market full of high quality wares.  We reconvene in the evening for our farewell dinner in a lovely local restaurant. Overnight Istanbul (B, D)

Day 16 | Wednesday 15 April
Depart Istanbul

Our tour concludes after breakfast. Individual airport transfers will be arranged by Academy Travel. (B)