A Journey Through Time: Private Ephesus & House of the Virgin Mary Tour
Morning Start: Step Into the Ancient Era You will be picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk or Kusadasi Port in the morning by your private vehicle to visit this wonderful city and feel the atmosphere of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the best-preserved classical city in the Mediterranean and perhaps the best place in the world to get a feel for what life was like during Roman times.
A Sacred Stop: The House of the Virgin Mary We begin our tour by visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, where she may have spent the last days of her life and passed away. In fact, she may have come to the area with St. John, who spent several years in the region to spread Christianity. Paul VI was the first Pope to visit this place in the 1960s. Later, in the 1980s, during his visit, Pope John Paul II declared the Shrine of Our Lady a place of pilgrimage for Christians. It is also visited by Muslims who recognize Mary as the mother of one of their prophets. A ceremony is held annually on August 15 to commemorate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Ephesus Ancient City: History on Marble Streets Then we continue exploring the Odeion, the Roman temple of the Goddess, the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Saint Caesar, the Fountains of Pollio and Trajan, the Celsus Library, the public baths used for more than a thousand years, the magnificent Ephesus Theater, the Harbor Street, and many other important points of the city of Ephesus.
Wonder of the Ancient World: Temple of Artemis We have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which earned the city the title of the "Handmaid of the Goddess." You will also have the chance to shop at local stores for traditional crafts. At the end of the day, you will be transferred back to your hotel or the port.
Our rates start from 89 Euro per person. Please ask for special rates tailored to your group.