Selcuk & Ephesus : Nobody comes to Turkey to visit poor overlooked Selçuk, relegated since ancient times to a secondary position in the shadow of Ephesus, its more illustrious neighbor.But the histories of the two cities are forever intertwined ; Selçuk predates Ephesus and indeed, Selçuk was Ephesus.
The rise and fall of Selçuk / Ephesus, which for the purposes of this chapter refers to the combined area between and including present - day Selçuk and Mount Koressos (Bülbül Dagi, where the remains of the original city wall still stand), was directly related to the ebbs and flows of the sea.In the 7th century B.C., Cimmerian invasions relegated the Ephesians to the area around the Artemesian, at the base of Ayasuluk Hill. (Selçuk’s castle occupies this hill.) Because the neighborhood of the Artemesian lies below sea level, archaeologists have been unable as of yet to excavate beyond the temple’s remains.When, with the death of Alexander the Great, General Lysimachos took control of the whole of Ionia, the city of Ephesus was reestablished adjacent to the harbor.The expansion of Christianity in the 4th century A.D. saw the construction of many important religious and state buildings in Ephesus, including the castle on Ayasuluk Hill and St. John’s Basilica.The silting up of the harbor resulted in the gradual decline of Ephesus as a major commercial port, leaving it vulnerable to subsequent invasions, namely the arrival of the Selçuks in the 10th century.
Today a visit to Selçuk seems only to be a necessary sidebar to the main attraction at Ephesus, just 3 km (approx. 2 miles) away.Nevertheless, the presence of a number noteworthy ruins – including the representative remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World ; the nearby winemaking village of Sirince, the whole of which has been declared a historic preservation site ; and the beaches around Kusadasi (only 18 km/11 miles away)
Ephesus Tour 2 Tour Code : EDT102
Itinerary : Ephesus Ancient City, House of Virgin Mary, Basilica of StJohn
Duration : 6 hours
Prices :
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Tour Plan :
Upon your request we are meeting at port, hotel or pick you up from airport around Izmir, we drive to Ephesus.
Arrival to Ephesus Ancient City - Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeon, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The theater had seating for 24,000, which was the site where it is believed St. Paul preached to the Ephesians and is used today for a local spring festival..
House of Virgin Mary - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered.
Basilica of St. John - Built by the Emperor Justinian over the tomb of St. John the Apostle, the Basilica, now in ruins, once rivaled St. Sophia in size. See the remaining graceful columns and mosaics of the Basilica as you take in the panorama of the rural Selcuk countryside and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis.
Included :
| • Transfer from port, hotel or airport and back. | |
| • Transportation by a comfortable AC non smoking Luxurious car / Van with professional driver. | |
| • Professional and experienced licensed guide during the tours. | |
| • Entry fees to the museums and sites. | |
| • Parking fees. |