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The seven cities to which the letters of Revelation 2–3 are addressed, in the order of the Roman road, with Hierapolis and Colossae near Laodicea, and Patmos, where John saw his visions. Six days; pilgrims usually go by coach from Ephesus and cross to Patmos by boat.

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Walking trail, 2 km · Skala – Cave of the Apocalypse – Chora

Day 1 · Ephesus

  1. EphesusActs 19:8–10One of the great excavated Roman cities: the marble street, the Library of Celsus, the theater of the riot and the terrace houses.
  2. The Temple of ArtemisActs 19:24–28Once one of the Seven Wonders of the World; now a single column, rebuilt from fragments, stands in a marshy field below Selçuk.≈ 2 km from the stop before
  3. Basilica of St John, SelçukJohn 21:20–24Ruins of the basilica with the marked tomb of John, below the castle on Ayasuluk hill above Selçuk.≈ 0 km from the stop before
  4. House of the Virgin MaryJohn 19:25–27A small restored stone house in the woods on a mountain above Ephesus, venerated by Catholics and visited by Muslims, who also honor Mary.≈ 5 km from the stop before

Day 2 · Smyrna and Pergamum

  1. Smyrna: the agoraRev 2:8–10The Roman agora, rebuilt after the earthquake of 178, with its vaulted basement, in the middle of modern İzmir.≈ 59 km from the stop before
  2. Pergamum: the acropolisRev 2:12–13On the steep hill: the theater, the temple of Trajan, the library ruins and the foundations of the altar of Zeus; a World Heritage site.≈ 79 km from the stop before
  3. Pergamum: the Red BasilicaRev 2:13The huge red-brick hall of a 2nd-century temple in the lower town of Bergama, by the river.≈ 1 km from the stop before

Day 3 · Thyatira and Sardis

  1. ThyatiraRev 2:18–19A small fenced excavation of columns and a Roman street in the center of Akhisar.≈ 63 km from the stop before
  2. SardisRev 3:1–4The temple of Artemis with a small Byzantine church at its corner, the rebuilt gymnasium and one of the largest ancient synagogues.≈ 49 km from the stop before

Day 4 · Philadelphia and Laodicea

  1. Philadelphia (Alaşehir)Rev 3:7–8The massive brick pillars of a Byzantine church of St John stand among the houses of Alaşehir.≈ 44 km from the stop before
  2. LaodiceaRev 3:14–16A large excavated city: colonnaded streets, two theaters, temples and a church of the 4th century.≈ 77 km from the stop before

Day 5 · Hierapolis and Colossae

  1. Hierapolis and the tomb of PhilipCol 4:12–13Ruins above the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale: the theater, a vast cemetery and the octagonal martyrium of Philip.≈ 9 km from the stop before
  2. ColossaeCol 1:1–2A grassy mound below Mount Honaz where excavation has only begun; the hollow of the theater can be made out.≈ 16 km from the stop before

Day 6 · Patmos

  1. Cave of the ApocalypseRev 1:9–11A small church built around the cave on the hillside between the harbor of Skala and Chora; a World Heritage site.≈ 245 km from the stop before
  2. Monastery of St John the TheologianRev 22:8The fortress monastery crowning Chora, with frescoed chapels, a treasury and a library of Byzantine manuscripts.≈ 1 km from the stop before

Before you travel, check your country’s travel advice. Opening hours and the rules of the sites change — see their official pages.

© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0 — Walking trail: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0), joined and simplified by Bible Explorer.

Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).