Full Day Ephesus & Temple of Artemis Tour from Izmir Port

A tour to the ancient city of Ephesus is a highlight of any trip to Turkey. Ancient Ephesus is the best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean and the largest open-air museum found in Turkey. Ephesus has more than 30 buildings and structures linked together by streets that still have the Marks of Ancient Chariot wheels.

The Great Theatre is where St Paul preached against the Pagans and where Gladiators once engaged in battle. Initially holding 25,000 people, this theatre was built in the Hellenistic period and was renovated by several Roman emperors. Designed for theatrical performances and then later alterations allowed gladiatorial contests to be held here.

The Library of Celsus has been remarkably restored and probably the most photographed place in Ephesus. Also, you might see the Odeon Temple, Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, Stream baths of scholastic, Marble road, Agora and Temple of Domitian.

After lunch in a local Turkish restaurant, you will continue to the House of Virgin Mary where Mary was brought to Ephesus by the apostle John after the resurrection of Christ and lived out her final days here. The church was built on the foundations of that house, and its authenticity has been confirmed by Pope lV and Pope John Poul ll. Many visitors on a guided Ephesus tour describe this as an uplifting or Spiritual Experience.

The final place you will visit is the Temple of Artemis one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus’ Temple of Artemis was built in honour to the goddess of the hunt, and only the foundation and one column remain of this temple which once measured 425 feet long.

Visit Basilica of St John, St.John where is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus with the Virgin Mary and buried in the southern slope of Ayasoluk Hill.

Climb up to a scenic little village Sirince, dotted with a dollhouse collection of stone and stucco houses. The area was probably settled when Ephesus was abandoned. Today you can see mainly remains from 19th century. The story goes that a group of freed Greek slaves moved here in the 15th century and called the village Çirkince (Ugliness) to deter others from following. The name was changed to the more honest Sirince (Pleasantness) in the 1920s during the founding of the new republic.
The current villagers, who moved here from Salonica during an exchange of populations in 1924, are ardent fruit farmers who also make and sell an interesting assortment of wines. Flavours range from raspberry and peach to the trendier black mulberry and pomegranate.