Step ashore Kusadasi: Ephesus visit

General information

Destination	Category
Kusadasi, Turkey	Attractions/Entertainment

Program details

Step ashore to Kusadasi from your cruise ship and step back in time with a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. It is the best-preserved Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean region, and Turkey's top sight after Istanbul, but the Ephesus archaeological site is not the only reason to visit this region.

Step ashore to Kusadasi from your cruise ship and step back in time with a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. It is the best-preserved Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean region, and Turkey's top sight after Istanbul, but the Ephesus archaeological site is not the only reason to visit this region.

Ephesus began as an ancient Greek city in Asia Minor, near the mouth of the Menderes River, south of Smyrna (toda’s Izmir). One of the greatest of the Ionian cities, it became the leading seaport of the region. Its wealth was proverbial. The Greek city was near an old centre of worship of a native nature goddess, who was equated with the Greek Artemis, and around 550BC, a large temple was built.

Located on the top of the Bulbul mountain 9km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of Virgin Mary enjoys a marvellous atmosphere hidden in the green. It is the place where Our Lady may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come to 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 area. The house of the 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.



Meeting point: Pick-up from port and drop off back at port. Tour lasts four hours.

Guiding options
Guiding type: Guide