ITINERARIES AND MAJOR SIGHTS TO BE VISITED

IZMIR CITY (Half day)

Visit Alexander the Great Castle from 4^th century BC on Pagos Hill overlooking the whole city and ancient AGORA, the best preserved Roman Market.Continue to the Archaelogical ( or Ethnographical) Museum.You can also visit the old Bazaar & the old city your with accompainment

of your guide you.Later drive to Karsiyaka to see one of the best residential areas of the city. Lunch not included.

EPHESUS (Full day)

You will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her last days.Afterwards a visit to EPHESUS which is an important city of antiguity, and one of the highlights of any visit in Turkey.Ephesus is probably the best combination of Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. With the mithological stories and spectacular ruins you will feel like living in ancient Ephesus.During the tour in the ruins of Ephesus, you will visit the Fountains of Trajan, Polio and Hydreen, the Temples of Hadrian of Domition, Brothel, Celcius Library, Varius and Scholostica Baths,Bouletorion and the Great Theathre with a capacity of 24.000 spectators.After a delicious lunch in Selçuk, you will visit rest of the Temple of Artemis and the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus.Return to Izmir.

PERGAMON (Full day)

Pergamon is one of the finest archaelogical sites in Turkey.The city was a great center of culture and capital of East-Roman-Empire.On the Acropolis there are numerous ruins including the celebrated library, an impressive Theatre, the Temples of Trajan and Dionysos, the place of the monumental Altar of Zeus, the sanctuary of Demeter, the Gymnasium situated on terraces, the lower Agora.After a lunch with Turkish specialities,you will visit the Archaelogical and Ethnographical Museum of Bergama, then the Asclepion which was dedicated to the god of health, Asclepios medical center of the ancient world.Return to Izmir.

PAMUKKALE (Full day)

Pamukkale (cotton castle) is a beautiful and spectacular naturel site, unique in the world with its fairylike, dazzling white, petrified cascade.There you will see the thermal spring water laden with calcareous salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic formation of stalacties, cataracts and basins.The thermal waters have been used since the Roman period for their therapeutic powers.Additional to these a visit to the Roman city of Hierapolis with its wonderful Necropolis and the Theatre. Return to Izmir.

APHRODISIAS (Full day)

After arrival in Aphrodisias, ancient city of sculptors, you will see one of the best looking ruins of the world.There you will visit the theater, Odeon, Bishop's Place, Stadium, Temple of Aphrodite and beautiful museum.

PRIENE & MILETOS & DIDYMA (Full day)

You will visit three Ionian cities with important roles in history:

Priene was one of the most active ports of the lonian Federation.The city is the oldest example of geometric city planning.

Miletos which has given its alphabeth to the rest of the classical world; was a great port and the native city of several philosophers and sages.

Didyma's Temple of Apollo with its famous oracle was one of the most sacred of antiquity. Althought looted and burned many times, it is still impressive.Not far from the site is the beautiful beach of Altýnkum where you can swim.Return to Izmir.

SARDES (Full day)

Leave Izmir for Sardes, capital of the ancient Lydia, see the ruins of the temple of Cybele and Diana where a church was added later.See the golden river Pactalos and the Royal Road.Visit the reconstructed synagogue, the gymnasium.On the way back a short visit to Manisa, see some old parts of this city.Return to Izmir.

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