Byzantine Heritage Sites in Turkey, Greece and Italy

The Byzantine Empire lasted for over a thousand years and influenced vast areas of the Mediterranean world. It was an important bridge between Western and Islamic worlds, preserving for the West many of the great works of classical Greek scholarship. It left important marks of its civilization throughout modern day Turkey, Greece and Italy in particular.

Illume brings people to experience these importance world heritage sites as a way to encourage greater learning about the Byzantine world, its beliefs, practices, art, and institutions.

Due to the vastness of the Byzantine world, it is difficult to encompass all worthwhile sites in one program. Areas of particular interest include Cappadocia with its unique underground cities and churches and early religious frescos, archaeological sites in Western Turkey - such as Aphrodisias and Ephesus where Byzantine civilization incorporated earlier layers of Greco-Roman architecture, Istanbul - including the magnificent Hagia Sophia, the St. Savior in Chora Church, and the archaeological museum, Thessalonica in northern Greece, Byzantine monasteris throughout Greece, the breathtaking Basilica of San Marco in Venice and the numerous mosaics in Ravenna. Even Rome offers important examples of Byzantine influenced mosaics in churches such as S. Clemente and S. Maria in Trastevere.

Email or contact us to learn more about how we can customize this program for your specific interests.