Tour Duration :
6,5 - 7 hrs
Min.# of guests :
20 guests
Max.# of guests :
300 guests
Meals :
Yes
Refreshments :
No
Walking Level :
Medium
Dress Code :
Comfortable
shoes with rubber
sole and a hat with
sunshade are reccommended. |
|
You will depart early in the morning for an excursion to what is undoubtedly one of the most impressive and most beautiful ancient cities on Earth, Ephesus. You should notice that there is an underlying theme of female divinity running throughout the day, which will begin at the first stop, at the House of the Virgin Mary.
It is recorded that St. John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ and that she spent her last days in a small house (Meryemana Evi) built for her here on Bulbuldagi (Mt. Koressos). The remains of the basement, found next to a sacred spring still believed to have healing powers, have been excavated and carbon dated to the first century AD. This, combined with historical evidence and artifacts from the site, give proof that the Virgin Mary did in fact live here. In the 20th century, the house received the official sanction of the Vatican, and it has become a place of pilgrimage for both Christians and Muslims, who honor Mary as the mother of a great prophet. Stand for a moment and appreciate the great serenity of this divine place, looking out from the hill on which the house stands, and across the countryside.
A visit to Ephesus is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple that once stood here was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, making Ephesus a cult center attracting thousands of pilgrims for traditional worship of the female goddess, first Cybele, goddess of the moon, then Artemis, and finally the Virgin Mary. It is a remarkable, engagingly beautiful place.
Lunch will be served at the garden of a nice handicrafts center, and followed by a visit to the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, housing the collection of statues and other finds uncovered during the excavations at Ephesus. You will see many beautiful works on display here, including gorgeous statues of the gods and goddesses who did much to inspire the heavenly city you have just seen.
Return to the pier at the end of the program. |
