Ephesus was the ancient Greek and later a major Roman city that housed the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the “Seven wonders of the Ancient World”. In the book of Revelations, it is mentioned as “one of the seven churches of Asia Minor”.
Visiting: Pick up and drop off to Kusadasi Port & Kusadasi / Selcuk Hotels, House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus Open Air Museum, Artemis Temple and saint John Church
Tour includes: Transportation, Parkings, Guiding Services, Accomodation at agreed star hotels, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Museum entrances.
Tour not includes: Beverages, tips and personal expenditures
The House of the Virgin Mary is located on Bulbuldagı, in the vicinity of Ephesus 8 km from Selcuk. The house was discovered by following the descriptions reported according to the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. It was accepted the place where Mary spend her last days. The building have typical Roman architectural example, constructed from stones completely. The house was declared as a holy place by Roman Catholic Church in 1896 and since then visited as pilgrimage place. Another interesting place in vicinity of Mary House is the “holy spring” a source to be found at the exit of the church area.
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia. The city was established by Greek colonists in the 10th century BC. After it came under Roman Republic dominian in 129 BC., it was flourished and became the third largest Roman city in Asia minor after Sardis and Alexandria Troas. The city gained its fame with Artemis temple, one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient Wolrd, constructed about 550 BC. The city lost its importance after its harbor silted up by the Kucukmenderes river.
The temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The Temple of Artemis, the goddess of abundance, hunting and wild life, was constructed as a Greek temple and dedicated to the goddess Artemis. İn roman period known as Diana Temple. Artemisia was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction in 401 AD. When it is visited Ephesus today, only can be seen foundations and sculptural fragments of the Hellenistic period temple at the site remain. The most beautiful remaining of this temple are today exhibited in the British Museum, London. The genuine statue of Artemis removed during the fire, is today exhibited in the Selcuk Museum.
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 Ayasuluk Hill. Three hundred years after the death of St. John, a small chapel was constructed over the grave in the 4th century. The Church of St John was changed into a marvelous basilica during the region of Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD). The monumental basilica was in the shape of a cross and was covered with six domes. Its construction, being of stone and brick, is an extremely rare find amongst the architecture of its time. The chapel was used as a mosque in the 14th century; became unusable due to the serious earthquake in the same century.