Itinerary

1. Ephesus Ancient City Tour

   • Connect with your tour representative to start the program itinerary.
   • Begin with a visit to Ephesus, which has been a trade center of the ancient world because Ephesus is in that location where trade roads end by land and from the harbours of the city continuous to Europa by sea. Another reason is Ephesus has always been an important cult center of Mothergoddes, Kybele or Artemis in the Greek period and later all these female figures converted in to Mother Mary and also Ephesus is considered to be one of the most well-preserved ancient cities from the Greko-Roman period where you can imagine easily how people lived 2000 years ago. 
   • Head to the ruins of the ancient city Ephesus. Walk through the original streets of the city which is 2000 years old. Enter the city from the upper gate from the official part of the city. First, go to Bouleuterion, the parliament building of the city. So do not expect to see a palace of a king here because Ephesus has never been a kingdom. After Greek colonization, the city was a Greek federation, 1 century B.C. Ephesus became a state of the Roman empire. That's how you will see Greek and Roman style together in this city's architecture. 
   • After walking down to Domitian's square, see the beautiful Nike relief. 
   • Next, pass through the Hercules gate where you have a general look to the city center. stroll by the Trajan fountain, Hadrian Temple, and public toilets and reach the most important monument in Ephesus, the Library of Celsus. 
   • The last exploration point will be the great public theatre which has a capacity of 25.000 people, one of the biggest in the World. Another visit during the tour will be the House of the Virgin Mary. As it is believed when Jesus' crucifixion, he left his mother to the guard of St. John the Evangelist and because of his mission St John travelled to Ephesus with Mother Mary where Virgin Mary. spent her last days and deceased. The Vatican has recognized this small house as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. Before the Christianity period, Ephesus was the Major center of Artemis worship one of the most spectacular Temple of all times was built for Artemis here in Ephesus where we call Artemision or temple of Artemis. Artemis temple had been a pilgrim center for pagans of those times and been the very first example of banking in history as merchants left their valuable things to the mercy of Artemis. Today only one column is left from the temple but the view from the temple is spectacular. 
   • Afterwards, proceed to Isabel Mosque, situated in Selcuk town which is in the old center of Selguk and surrounded by old Turkish houses. This mosque is from the 14 century, Turkish period and was built before the conquest of Istanbul which makes this modest mosque very different from imperial Islamic architecture. 
   • There will be excursions for local arts like a pottery lecture (giving shape to clay), a weaving course (gathering silk from cocoons and weaving handmade carpets) and also visits for local tastes (traditional Turkish food). 
   • Later, also go to the Leather Fashion Show.

   Tour ends.