ITINERARY

• After meeting your guide at the Kusadasi port, you'll board the waiting minivan just outside the port and head towards Ephesus, approximately a half-hour journey.
• Upon arrival at Ephesus, we embark on our exploration of this meticulously preserved ancient city. Originally founded in the 10th century BC by Attic and Ionian Greek settlers on the former Arzawan capital site, Ephesus thrived as a prominent city-state along the Ionian coast, approximately 3 kilometers southwest of modern-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. During the Classical Greek period, it held significant status as one of the twelve cities belonging to the Ionian League. In 129 BC, Ephesus fell under the dominion of the Roman Republic, marking a pivotal era in its history.
• Next, we continue our journey to the House of the Virgin Mary, a Catholic pilgrimage site situated on Mount Koressos near Ephesus, approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Selçuk in Turkey.
• Afterward, a lunch break is scheduled, which is included in the tour. Following that, we aim to immerse you in Ephesus's local culture, showcasing traditional carpet and rug art crafted through ancestral weaving techniques at the Teaching Village. You'll also have the opportunity to appreciate Ephesus ceramics during this experience.
• The Temple of Artemis, also called the Artemision or Temple of Diana, was an ancient Greek temple honoring a local version of the goddess Artemis (equivalent to the Roman goddess Diana). Situated in Ephesus, it underwent complete reconstruction twice: first following a destructive flood, and later, three centuries after, due to an arson attack. In its ultimate incarnation, it achieved renown as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. By the year 401 AD, the temple had suffered ruin or destruction. Today, only foundational remnants and fragments of the last temple remain at the site.