We begin this full-day guided tour first by visiting the ancient City of Ephesus. The ancient city of Ephesus and its surrounding area hosts some really important and interesting sites and monuments, so if you are a lover of sightseeing around ancient sites and learning about their history, Ephesus is most certainly the place to visit. For this tour everything is included in the price.
Ephesus is a partially excavated Roman City located in the Selçuk region of Türkiye. It’s cobbled streets give a insight into how the Romans lived, entertained, and socialised. Ephesus, is known to be the Commercial, the Religious and the Social Centre of Antiquity, and one of the highlights of any visit in Türkiye and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2015. It is probably the best combination of Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilisations. You will visit the Fountains of Trajan, Polio, the Temples of Hadrian and Domitian, the Library of Celcius, Bouleuterion and the Great Theatre with a capacity of 25.000 spectators.
House of Virgin Mary is located on the top of the "Bulbul" mountain 9 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of Virgin Mary enjoys a marvellous atmosphere hidden in the green. It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come in the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded place.
The house of Virgin Mary is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, has been built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims). A front kitchen fell into ruins and has been restored in 1940's. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors. From there one can understand that this building looks more like a church than a house. Another interesting place is the "Water of Mary," a source to be found at the exit of the church area and where a rather salt water, with curative properties, can be drunk by all.
Paul VI was the first pope to visit this place in the 1960's. Later, in the 1980's, during his visit, Pope John-Paul II declared the Shrine of
Virgin Mary has a pilgrimage place for Christians. It is also visited by Muslims who recognize Mary as the mother of one of their prophets. Every year, on August 15th a ceremony is organized to commemorate Mary's Assumption.
HIGHLIGHTS
*Full-Day Guided tour to the ruins of Ephesus and St. Mary's House from Didim
*Visit the final resting place of the Virgin Mary
*Explore the Temple of Artemis, considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
*Enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine
*Transport by air-conditioned coach
TOUR PROGRAM
· Departure from Didim at 08:00am
· Arriving Ephesus approximately 80 minutes later
· Visiting the ancient city of Ephesus
· Visiting Artemiz Temple
· Lunch (open buffet)
· Visiting House of Virgin Mary
· Departure
· Return to Didim by 17:00
PRICE
Minimum: 2 people
£174/€205 pp
Child: 6-11 yrs ½ price
INCLUDED IN PRICE:
*Air-conditioned coach
*Professional guiding
*Entrance fee for ruins of Ephesus & House of Mary
*Lunch
*Insurance
*Transfer from/to hotel / accommodation
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:
*Drinks, snacks, personal expenses
*Tips to the driver/guide.
WHAT TO BRING
*Comfortable shoes and clothes
*Camera, hat, sunglasses,
*Whatever prescription or over the counter medications you may need,
*Some Money or Credit Card
TR Türkçe
DE Deutsch
PL Polish
