- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

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TOUR A - Ephesus

TOUR A - Ephesus

Excursions

70 - 80
8-8.5 hours
Strenuous

Ephesus is one of Turkey’s best-preserved ancient cities. Our tour will provide an insight into the fascinating history of the city.

Departing the quayside, we travel to Ephesus, where upon arrival we visit the House of the Virgin Mary. The house is believed to have been the last residence of the Virgin Mary, and was brought to public attention by a bedridden nun, Katarina Emmerich, in the 19th century. She had visions of the Apostle John and Mary travelling to Ephesus after the Resurrection of Christ, and her descriptions of Mary’s house were recorded. Years after her visions, a French clergyman came to the area and found a house matching the nun’s description, but didn’t receive a favourable response when he sent word to the bishops of Paris and Rome. Then in 1891, a research team came to the area to see the house, and discovered a small chapel in ruins and a damaged statue of the Virgin Mary. Further research showed that the foundations of the house dated as far back as the first century. The house was restored to its present state in 1950.

After our visit, we arrive at the archaeological site of Ephesus, where we will be able to get an idea of the original splendour of the city. Some of the highlights we shall see include the ruins of the Library of Celsius, the Forum, the Temple of Hadrian, the Scholastika Baths and the Great Theatre, which is still noted for its remarkable acoustics. We then walk to our coach along the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession.

Next we travel to the Temple of Artemis, also known as the Temple of Diana. The temple was built in around 250 BC and was made entirely of marble. All that remains of the Seventh Wonder of the World today is a column and fragments on the ground. After a short time here, we will stop for lunch at a local countryside farm, where we may have the chance to see the local carpet-weaving factory.

Our final visit is to the Basilica of St John. It was believed that St John spent his final years in the area around Ephesus and was buried here. A small chapel was constructed over the grave in the 4th century, and was then changed into a basilica during the reign of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. The foundations and marble floors have been partially reconstructed, and more recent excavations have revealed a baptistery and central pool. If the baptistery were to be fully restored today, it would be the seventh largest cathedral in the world.

Following our visit here, we re-board our tour coach for the return journey to Izmir.

TOUR NOTES: Please note that this is a strenuous tour, which is not suitable for passengers with limited mobility or wheelchair users. There is approximately two hours of walking at the archaeological site of Ephesus over uneven ground, and some steps to negotiate, 30 minutes at the House of the Virgin Mary, plus around 15 steps. At the Temple of Artemis there is around 15 minutes of walking and standing, while at St John’s Basilica there is 30 minutes, plus a few steps. Please note that the walk through the archaeological site of Ephesus is compulsory – our tour coach will relocate near to the exit during our visit. Ephesus is a busy site, therefore it is important that passengers remain with the group. Passengers are advised to wear flat, comfortable walking shoes; a hat, sun protection and a bottle of water are also recommended. The ground at Ephesus can become slippery when wet, so passengers should exercise due care and attention when walking through the site. Depending on the berth of our ship, there may be a walk of up to 400 metres from the ship to the tour vehicles. Places of interest may be visited in a different order to that described. For reference, the drive from Izmir to Ephesus takes approximately one and a quarter hours each way.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2011 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES