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 Hellenistic, Byzantine and Rome periods.
The First Stop of Our Daily Culture Tour: İzmir Şirince
It is a village located within the borders of Selçuk District of İzmir. Şirince Village, which comes to the minds of the people when someone talks about the sightseeing places in İzmir, locates 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 olive trees, largely succeeded to preserve its original historical architecture and been very popular for the tourists in recent years.
Centuries ago, Şirince was a Greek village having a population of 1800, then it has been populated by Turks migrated from Balkan countries after 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 touristic attraction in the 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 other with the tour guide, we visit Ephesus Selçuk Virgin Mary’s House and the companions of 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 Mahabharata epic. This epic talks about 7 people with a dog who broke off relations with the kingdom and the world life in order 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 holly 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 the Mary’s house was completed in 1950’s and it was declared as a holy place by Vatican. The house was accepted as a pilgrimage place by 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 east, 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 as a visitable area and most attractive ruin for the tourists in our country.
Ephesus, which was an important civilization center in antique era, has been a tourism center visited by approximately 2,2 million people every year. When you join Bodrum Ephesus Tour, It the most important place that you will definitely see.
Selçuk Ephesus Museum
Now it is the time to see Selçuk-Ephesus Museum which is the most important and the richest museum in the Europe. You can see artifacts and ruins remained from Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods.
The most original artifact in the museum: The Cult Statue of Artemis of Ephesus. Although it symbolizes the virginity in Greek and Latin Mythology, Anatolian Ephesus symbolizes goddess of fertility and abundance. It does not carry 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: 1 day a week
Location: Departure from the hotel
Bodrum Ephesus Excursion Itinerary:
- Early departure from the hotel
- Road to Selcuk, the current name of Ephesus
- Visit of the site: Superior Agora, the Prytanee, the Odeon, the Rue des Courètes, the Place de Domitien, the monument of Memnius, the fountain of
- Polio, the fountain of Trajan, the temple of Hadrian, the library of Celsus, the Agora, the rue de Marbre, 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 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
- 60 € per person
- Child: (00–06) free :)
Pros
- Private English speaking guide
- Transfer and transport included
- Lunch included
- Ancient site ticket included
- No waiting in line
- Payment on the spot
