OVERVIEW: This half day tour is designed to provide you with a detailed account of life and times in Ephesus and is led by a historical expert.
HIGHLIGHTS: In Ephesus, see the Magnesia Gate, Odeon, Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, Library of Celsius, Grand Theater, and the Arcadian Way. Visit the Terrace Houses which represent the life of the wealthy. Enjoy a refreshment stop and a brief carpet presentation
NOTES: Guests must be able to walk approx. 1.5 miles and and this tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. Guests must walk across scaffolding with Plexiglas flooring at the Terrace Houses.
Overview:
This half day tour is designed to provide you with a detailed account of life and times in Ephesus.
Highlights:
-Ruins of Ephesus: See the Magnesia Gate, Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, and the Library of Celsius, Grand Theater, and the Arcadian Way.
-Terrace Houses: See the houses of the rich dating back to the 1st century BC
-Enjoy a refreshment stop and a brief carpet presentation.
Full Description:
This half day tour is designed to provide you with a detailed account of life and times in Ephesus. You’ll begin your tour with a 30 minute drive to Ephesus. Ephesus is built on a small hill, with the entrance located at the top of the hill and the exit at the bottom. Once you enter the Open Air Museum of Ephesus and pass by the Magnesia Gate, you will visit the administrative section of Ancient Ephesus. Your guided walking tour will take you through one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. You’ll see the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, the steam baths of Scholastika, Temple of Hadrian and the most famous structure, the Library of Celsius. The facade of the library has two-stories, with Corinthian style columns on the ground floor and three entrances to the building. Next, you’ll see the Grand Theater where St. Paul preached. It is one of the largest theaters in antiquity with a capacity of 24,000 seats.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the Terrace Houses which are located on the slopes of Bulbul Mountain, opposite the Hadrian Temple. These are also known as "the houses of rich." They were built for the important and wealthy people of Ephesus. The terrace houses are a separate museum inside Ephesus which include great engraving, mosaics, sections, and floors all representing the life style of the rich Ephesians. You will be given an extra ticket to visit the inner sections of these houses in which the excavations still continue. The most ancient of the houses were built in the first century BC and most of the houses were restored in the second century AD. The houses seem plain from outside, but inside they were constructed with the highest standards for their day. They were decorated with mosaics and frescoes, and they had interior courtyards in the center, with an open ceiling. To give you an idea about the quality of life in Ephesus, the houses had both cold and hot water. The visit to the Terrace Houses will give you an understanding about the Ephesians and their way of life. You may also receive a short briefing from an excavation archeologist during your tour in the Terrace Houses depending on the schedule of the excavations at that time.
After your visit to the Terrace Houses, you’ll make your way down the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. At the end of your tour, you will return to downtown Kusadasi and for a refreshment stop and a brief carpet presentation.
What to Bring:
-You should always take your SeaPass card (provided onboard the ship) and photo identification when in port
-Camera and cash or credit card for shopping
-Sunscreen and a hat
-Insect repellent is recommended in July and August
What to Wear:
-Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.
Important Notes:
-Guests must be able to walk approximately 1.5 miles over uneven and cobblestone surfaces with inclines and 100+ steps (mostly at the Terrace Houses).
-As guests will have to walk across scaffolding with Plexiglas flooring while at the Terrace Houses, guests suffering from acrophobia (fear of heights) may experience discomfort on this portion of the tour and should take this into consideration.
-Guests need to watch their step at all times in order to avoid injuries.
-Due to the nature of this tour, this tour is not recommended for guests using a walker or wheelchair, or who have difficulties in walking, climbing, or managing steps.
