Izmir & Ephesus And The Aegean Region

It is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world and famous throughout history for its Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Ephesus formed a focal point in the ancient world because of its protected harbor and as a starting point for the Royal Road via Sardis to Susa. It was also a cult center attracting thousands of pilgrims for traditional worship of the female, first Cybele, then Artemis and finally the Virgin Mary in the Christian period.
Begin the visit from the Upper Agora. Clustered around this agora were the Varius Baths and the Odeon, both from the second century A.D., the Prytaneon or Town Hall, and the Temple of Domitian – the first temple of Ephesus to be built in the name of an emperor. Then down towards the Pollio and Trajan Fountains, the Temple of Hadrian, the Scholastika Baths and the Hercules Gate. At the start of the Marble Street is the lower Agora, the Celsus Library. Then down to the Theatre and the Arcadian Way.

Nearby on Bulbuldag (Mt. Nightingale). According to tradition St. John brought Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ, and she spent the last days of her life here.
Officially sanctioned by the Vatican, it is now a popular site of pilgrimage.

The museum in Selcuk and has been enlarged and displays the many impressive works of art recovered from and around Ephesus.

Pergamon was a centre of science and fine arts during the Hellenistic period and had the largest library in the world after Alexandria. Visit the various temples, the Acropolis, the Asclepion (healing centre dedicated to Asclepios, God of Healing), the Red Basilica and the Museum.

Kuşadası is to the south of Izmir at an hour’s drive and is set in a gulf and known for its sparkling water. A little more than a decade ago Kuşadası was considered a stopover on the way to Ephesus, now numerous hotels, pensions, holiday villages line its shores. Also, it is one of the most important port for of call for many cruise ships.

Ancient city dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite became renowned throughout Asia Minor as a center of medicine and philosophy but above all, of sculpture and arts.
The well preserved Theater had its orchestra and stage converted into an arena for fights between gladiators and wild animals in the second century.
The Stadium which could hold 40.000 is one of the finest Greco-Roman structures in the world and was the scene of all athletic, drama, musical and sculpting competitions.

Inland, to the east of Kuşadası is at 2 and a half hours drive. Pamukkale in Turkish means “Cotton Castle”. The area is a shimmering white cascade, formed by limestone-laden hot springs, which have formed stalactites, potholes and magical fairy-tables. Besides the baths here, one must visit the ruins of Hieropolis which spread over a mile from the city founded by Eumenes II of Pergamon and bequeathed by Attalus II to Rome. It was leveled by an earthquake in AD 17 but was rapidly rebuilt and enjoyed prosperity between the second and third centuries.

It was known as Halicarnassus in ancient times. Herodotus was born here in 485 B.C. Mausolos, the Carian King of the region, made Bodrum its capital in the fourth century and after his death his wife built him a Mausoleum which became one of the seven wonders of the world. Nothing much is left today of this Mausoleum but the location is still visited.
Bodrum today is a lively summer resort, buzzling with people, restaurants, bars and night life.

Bodrum Castle and the Underwater Archaeology Museum within the castle are the highlights. The castle was built by the Knights of St. John of Rhodes between 1402 and 1415. The castle was restored and established as an archaeological museum in 1964. This museum which houses both land and underwater relics, is considered to be the most important underwater archaeological museum in the world. There are many finds taken from six shipwrecks dating back to the 11th century B.C.

A more recent denizen of the Museum is the Princess Ada of Caria, who had lived in Bodrum 2350 years ago ! Her well preserved skeleton was found in a tomb in the outskirts of Bodrum sometime in 1989. The skull and teeth were in such good condition that it was suggested a facial reconstruction may be possible. Dr. Neave and his team undertook the reconstruction and the result was successful.