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Call us FREE 0800 204 4635
Opening Hours - Office closed, we'll open at 8:30am
On Turkey's western Aegean coast is Kuşadasi, a beach town named after the nearby Güvercinada Island, which resembles a bird's head. A Byzantine castle on the island is popular for sightseeing, while the mainland is home to the popular Ladies Beach, a seafront promenade, plus many restaurants and shops. Nearby attractions include several waterparks and the scenic Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park, though the ancient Greco-Roman city of Ephesus is the magnum opus.
Itinerary: Rome (from Civitavecchia), Italy - Salerno - Messina - Valletta - Rhodes, Greece - Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Istanbul - Mytilini (Lesbos) - Athens, Piraeus
Includes: 6★ All-Inclusive Cruising*, FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions*, FREE Drinks Package & Wi-Fi*, FREE Speciality Dining & Included Gratuities*
Itinerary: Venice, Italy - Split - Kotor, Montenegro - Corfu, Greece - Gythion - Santorini - Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Athens, Piraeus
Includes: 6★ All-Inclusive Cruising*, FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions*, FREE Drinks Package & Wi-Fi*, FREE Speciality Dining & Included Gratuities*
Itinerary: Los Angeles, California - Avalon, California - Hilo, Hawaii, US - Manele Bay, Lanai, Hawaii, US - Honolulu, Hawaii - Nawiliwili Kauai, Hawaii, USA - Tabuaeran (Fanning Island),...
Includes: 6 Star All-Inclusive Ultra-Luxury Cruising*, Complimentary drinks & gratuities on board*, FREE Wi-Fi for ALL Bookings*, All-Inclusive Dining On Board*
Around 20km north east of Kuşadasi, the excavated remains of Ephesus tell tales of a rich history that spans ancient Ionia and the Roman Empire.
Ancient Ruins in Ephesus, Kusadasi
Greek Temple of Artemis, Kusadasi
Ladies Beach, Kusadasi
Ephesus, Kusadasi
Ephesus
The Theatre Ephesus, Kusadasi
Before it was destroyed in 401 AD, the third and final version of the Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. It is thought to have been completed around 550 BC on a sacred site that dates back to the Bronze Age and was dedicated to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt, wild nature and virginity. Though only foundations and fragments remain, a visit to the site of this multi-columned marble masterpiece is a must.
The best known monument in Ephesus is the Library of Celsus, which dates back to 110 AD. Built in memory of Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, it was capable of holding 12,000 scrolls in its wall niches. The structure that now stands has been extensively restored and displays clever architectural features that enhance its perceived size.
Thought to be the largest outdoor theatre in the ancient world, The Great Theatre was reconstructed by the Romans in 41 AD. Around 24,000 spectators were able to be seated in the 66 stone rows of the cavea, the lowest levels of which had marble backs for important personalities, while the higher levels were pitched to afford better views and acoustics.
Just outside Ephesus on Mt. Koressos is the House of the Virgin Mary. A Catholic and Muslim shrine, it is believed to be where Saint John took Mary, the mother of Jesus, to live until her assumption into Heaven. The modest church now has a wishing wall on which pilgrims place their intentions and is surrounded by flowered gardens.
Legend has it that the slopes of Mt. Pion in Ephesus are the site of the Cave of the Seven Sleepers. Here, in 250 AD, seven Christian youngsters refused to idolise Roman Gods and became enclosed in a cave. They fell asleep and awoke 180 years later to find a city of churches and free Christian worship. Visit the grotto and the several tombs believed to be those of the sleepers after they died.