KUSADASI
Tour: EPHESUS TOUR WITH SIRINCE VILLAGE
After breakfast we pick you up from your Kusadasi hotel and start for our full day tour. We will visit: Ephesus Tour extensively the ancient city of Ephesus. Very probably the largest archeological site in Turkey, it rises on the north slope of Mount Pion extending southward to the slope of Mount Koressos. First founded as a colony of Athens some 1000 years before Christ, it was rebuilt and fortified with city walls in the late part of the fourth century BC by Lysimachus, who had been left in charge of the city by Alexander the Great after his visit there in 334 BC. After Alexandria and Antiochia, during the Roman period, it was designated as the capital of Asia Minor. The apostle, Paul, came to Ephesus in the 1st century and it is believed to be the place from where he wrote his letter known as First Corinthians in the Holy Bible. Ephesus is also one of the seven churches, or communities of Christians, referred to in Revelations (Revelations 2:1-7). Explore the extensive site of this white marble ancient city and marvel at its spectacular monuments, such as the Library of Celsus, the Agora, the Odeon, the Trajan Fountain, the Domitianus Temple, the theater and the roman latrines, etc. HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY-You will also visit the House of Mother Mary, located on the top of Bulbul Dag (the Mount of the Nightingale), seven kilometers south of the ancient city of Ephesus. Here the Blessed Virgin is said to have lived her last years on earth having been brought to the area under the care of St John, who also lived and preached here. It was reconstructed on the foundations unearthed in 1891 by Lazarist Fathers following the detailed description given to them by an infirmed German woman who claimed to have been shown this neighborhood in visions that she had of the Virgin Mother. Soon after, this place began to attract interest and is visited today by pilgrims from all over the world. Pope John XXIII visited this shrine many times during his stay as the Apostolic Delegate in Turkey while Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II came here as pilgrims in 1967 and 1979 respectively. TEMPLE OF ARTEMİS-The tour will make a stop to see what remains of the Temple of Artemis. This famous temple is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and is also known as Artemission. It was first built in the lonian style during 560-550 BC by the Lydian King, Croesus. After being burned down in 356 BC, it was rebuilt on the same foundations, its 55×115 meters in dimension and was the largest of all the ancient temples. It was discovered during excavations that were undertaken by the British Museum, in 1869-1874 under the supervision of J.T. Wood and in 1904-1905 under David G. Hogart. Many of the ruins were taken to the museum in England. ŞİRİNCE-Then it’s up into the mountains to the lovely little Turkish-Orthodox village of Sirince Up here, far from the madding crowd, you can wander the narrow streets, where the women sell their handcrafts and oils. You can take a quiet drink in one of the small café’s and sample the local sweet fruity wine. ISABEY MOSQUE: Isa bey mosque is one of the best and important example which reflects the end of the Seljuk Empire period in late 14 C A.D. In addition, this mosque bears the imprint of Umayyad mosque in Damascus in which is one of the Islamic centers for scientists and scholars The marble and tiles here make almost a harmonial visiual feast those who want to visit. The ruler, Aydinoglu Isa bay, conducted to the architect in order to reflect the splendeur and strength of the empire so the architect made a great effort to create such a beauty. Overnight in Kusadasi.
