Bodrum Ephesus Tour
The Pleasant Discovery of Aegean Region with its Nature, History and Culture in Bodrum Ephesus Tour
A unique historical journey in Aegean region, where you will get lost in the magic of antique cities and you will not want to return, hosting historical remains and cities from the Hellenistic, Byzantine, and Rome periods.
The First Stop of Our Daily Culture Tour: İzmir Şirince
It is a village located within the borders of the Selçuk District of İzmir. Şirince Village, which comes to the minds of the people when someone talks about the sightseeing places in İzmir, is located 8 km to Selçuk, 12 km. Ephesus Antique City and 30 km to Kuşadası. It is a village located in the middle of ever-green hills covered with olive trees, largely succeeded to preserve its original historical architecture, and has been very popular for tourists in recent years.
Centuries ago, Şirince was a Greek village having a population of 1800, then it was populated by Turks who migrated from Balkan countries after the Turkish-Greek Population Exchange. Before the population exchange, the economy of the village was based on viniculture, winemaking, and olive cultivation, however, after the population exchange these activities were delayed for a while in the hands of newcomers. With the increasing tourist attraction in recent years, those type of production activities have started to revive. Bodrum is one of the haunts within our Ephesus tour program.
We have a village-type breakfast at Şirince Can Restaurant in Şirince. After we cross the Şirince village from one end to the other with the tour guide, we visit Ephesus Selçuk Virgin Mary’s House and the companions of the cave/seven sleepers.
Seven Sleepers
Seven Sleepers known as Ashab-I Kehf (companions of cave) in Islamic literature is a story related with many different cultures. The common point of all those stories spread about the seven sleepers which is a group of people who left their people. The oldest story about them is in the Mahabharata epic. This epic talks about 7 people with a dog who broke off relations with the kingdom and the world life to mortify their flesh.
Virgin Mary’s House
According to Christian belief, after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, her mother Virgin Mary accompanied by Saint John arrived in this region and spent the last years of her life there. That’s why the house is accepted as one of the holy pilgrimage places. This house, which is owned by St. Virgin Mary House Association at the present time, was discovered by Lazarists from Izmir in 1891. The restoration of Mary’s house was completed in the 1950s and it was declared as a holy place by the Vatican. The house was accepted as a pilgrimage place by the Vatican in 1952. This house is one of the essential points within our Ephesus Tour route.
Ephesus Antique City
Ephesus, which was one of the most famous cities of ancient ages, has been located near the bay where Little Menderes River poured its water to the sea. Ephesus went down in history as a great city due to its arable land, being a great port opened to the east, and an important religious center for both polytheistic and Christianity. Many famous science and art people grew up in this city. Some of them are dream interpreter Artemidorus, Poet Callinos and Hipponax, Philosopher Herakleitos, Artist Parrhasius, and Grammarian Zenodotos. Although 20% of the antique Ephesus city has been excavated up to now, it is the largest ancient city in the world is a visitable area and the most attractive ruin for the tourists in our country.
Ephesus, which was an important civilization center in the antique era, has been a tourism center visited by approximately 2,2 million people every year. When you join the Bodrum Ephesus Tour, It is the most important place that you will see.
Selçuk Ephesus Museum
Now it is the time to see the Selçuk-Ephesus Museum which is the most important and the richest museum in Europe. You can see artifacts and ruins remained from the Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods.
The most original artifact in the museum is the Cult Statue of Artemis of Ephesus. Although it symbolizes virginity in Greek and Latin Mythology, the Anatolian Ephesus symbolizes the goddess of fertility and abundance. It does not carry a bow. It is identified with the Phrygian Cybele. The Statue of Artemis of Ephesus, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, was sculptured in the name of that goddess.
Visit of the holy city of Artemis - Excursion Bodrum Ephesus: several agoras, temples, fountains, the library of Celsus, one of the largest theaters in the Mediterranean basin.
When: Every Day
Location: Departure from the hotel
Bodrum Ephesus Excursion Itinerary:
- Early departure from the hotel.
- Road to Selcuk, the current name of Ephesus.
- Visit the site: Superior Agora, the Prytanee, the Odeon, the Rue des Courètes, the Place de Domitien, and the monument of Memnius.
- Polio, the fountain of Trajan, the temple of Hadrian, the library of Celsus, the Agora, the rue de Marbre, and the Grand Theatre. You will have a very good idea of life at the time in this city where Roman pleasures and Greek mythology merge.
- Lunch not included.
- Visit the temple of Artemis, the protective goddess of the city, which was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
- At the end of the afternoon we return to the hotel.
The price
- 642$ for 1 to 4 people.
- Child: (00–06) free :)
Pros
- Private English-speaking guide.
- Transfer and transport included.
- Ancient site ticket included.
- No waiting in line.
- Payment on the spot.
