We will be spending two nights in Kusadasi. The city is located near significant
historical sites and it’s also famous for beautiful beaches, shopping and
the hospitality of its people. Kusadasi was once a small fishing village and is
now a major stop for cruise ships touring the Mediterranean. Before we board for our cruise of the
Greek Islands we will have an opportunity to tour Ephesus and possibly visit
one of the many beaches or shop in the colorful grand bazaar, which is known as
one of Turkey’s largest shopping areas.
We will start our tour by traveling to Selcuk, which is about 20 km from Kusadasi, and visit the House of the Virgin Mary. The house was discovered in the 19th century. Catholic pilgrims visit the house based on the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there until her Assumption.
We will then proceed to Ephesus, which was first settled in the 10th century BC by Greek colonists, and has become one of the most historical and important cities of the ancient Roman Empire. It is described as one of the best-preserved ancient classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus was an important seaport as early as 600 BC but over many centuries silt has filled the harbor, and today the harbor of Kusadasi is over 12 kilometers away. One of the things that makes Ephesus so revered from an archaeological perspective is the fact that much of the ancient city is still buried and well preserved. It is estimated that just fifteen percent of the city has been uncovered, which gives visitors an idea of just how vast Ephesus was for its time.
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| Meryemana The Virgin Mary's House |
We will then proceed to Ephesus, which was first settled in the 10th century BC by Greek colonists, and has become one of the most historical and important cities of the ancient Roman Empire. It is described as one of the best-preserved ancient classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus was an important seaport as early as 600 BC but over many centuries silt has filled the harbor, and today the harbor of Kusadasi is over 12 kilometers away. One of the things that makes Ephesus so revered from an archaeological perspective is the fact that much of the ancient city is still buried and well preserved. It is estimated that just fifteen percent of the city has been uncovered, which gives visitors an idea of just how vast Ephesus was for its time.
It would be very
worthwhile to read about Ephesus or at least watch videos before we visit the
site so you have some historical background as well as be familiar with what we
will be seeing on our tour. Here is a link to a website I found
which gives an extensive overview of the sites we will be visiting.
Some of the sites
I am looking forward to seeing are the Great Theater of Ephesus and the Library
of Celsus. The magnificent theater is built into the side of a hill and has a
seating capacity of 24,000. The
Library is well-known for its architectural design and was one of the largest
libraries of the ancient world. It
was built to store over 12,000 scrolls and to
serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus, a Roman Senator.
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| Ephesus Theater |
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| Library of Celsus |
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