Tour to Ephesus Ancient City – Artemission Temple – Virgin Mary House – St. John Basilica / Approximately 7,5 hours

When your cruise ship docks your professional tour guide will be awaiting you with a board where your name is written at the arrival gate of the Port. Then you will join your guide to get to the van. After 30 min. driving you will be arrived to Selcuk town where Ephesus ruins stand. Firstly, you will stop at the Temple of Artemis which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although there is one single column left today, magnificient temple had been built for the goddess of fertility and hunters, Artemis, known as Diana after city passed under the rule of Romans.

Then drive to Ephesus. Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus; it was built in the beginning of the 2nd century A.D. by Gaius Julius Aquila to be a memorial to his father Gaius Julius Celsus Polemanus, the proconsul of Province of Asia. , the Temple of Hadrian and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D. The theater was the place where St. Paul preached.

The House of Virgin Mary is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles away from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council on 431 AD in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared there as a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed there. After House of Virgin Mary, drive to St. John’s Basilica, it is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill.

We will stop at ArtemissionTemple where used to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world as our last stop before drive back to Izmir port. The end of our services.

** Terrace Houses (Optional Visit) is located in the ancient city of Ephesus and can be added into itinerary with 10-US$ extra per person. It will extend tour duration around 30 mins. Ephesus has 1 mile ( 1.5 k.m.) walking distance and Terrace Houses has steps. Not recommended for people with physical disabilities.

** We guarantees that we will always get you back to your ship on-time

PLACES TO VISIT

Ephesus Ancient City (Included the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, the Baths of Scholastika, the Temple of Hadrian, Ancient Toilets, Agora, Hercule Gate, Domitian Square, Library of Celsius, the Grand Theater)
Terrace Houses (optional)
Temple of Artemis
St. John’s Basilica
The House of Virgin Mary

INCLUDING

Transportation with fully A/C private & non-smoking vehicle
English speaking tour guide
All parking lots

EXCLUDING

Entrance fees
Personal expenses
Meals and drinks
Travel insurances
Tips to guide and driver

PRICES