DELIGHTFULL PERGAMON 02 / BRILLIANCE OF THE SEA AND HISTORY

ACROPOL & ASCLEPION & AYVALIK CUNDA ISLAND   from  CESME 

You’ll drive to the Acropol in Pergamon

You’ll arrive the Acropol by Cable car.The Acropol is at an elevation of 300 meters and is especially rich in structures from the Hellenistic period.The palaces of the kings of Bargama,the theater ,holy areas and temples ,the agora ,the gymnasium,heroon (tomb of a deified hero) and other remains from the Roman period are all to be found on this hill.The excavation at Bergama began in 1877 and the most important find is the Zeus Altar which was taken to Berlin to be displayed there.It is only possible to see the base of the altar at Bergama.The most impressive structure on the ancient site is undouptedly the Traianus Temple which has been reerected after very successful restoration work.Other structures worthy of note are :the Temple to Dionysus ,which was constructed completely from marble in the Ionic style ,the 15.000 seat theater which is the steepest of its kind,the second largest library of its time containing 200.000 works and the Bergama Library ,built by King Attalos 1,which is located behind the Temple to Athena.

After the visit of Acropol ,you’ll continue to Asklepion.This is situated to West of the ancient site.It was constructed in the 4th century BC and this area was dedicated to the god of health,Aesculapius and is the remains of one of the first health centers in the World.In its day Asklepion ,was famous for its motto,’’Death cannot enter the place its forbidden’’.On the ‘’Blessed Way’’ you can find the symbol used today by pharmacists -the snake entwined round a stick.Among some of the methods of treatment used here were music and psychotherapy .During the Romanperiod the famous pharmacist and physician,Galenos ,worked here at the Asklepion before working as the court physian. Locally the Asklepion is known as ‘’Ayvaz Ali’’.

Then you’ll have Lunch at the local restaurant

After Lunch you’ll drive to discover Ayvalık with the visit of Devil’s Table.It is not to mention the Devil’s Table ,which should be seen by everyone who goes to Ayvalık.With its unique view ,Seytan Sofrası ,which overlooks Ayvalık,attracts everyone’s attention with its memorable story.According to the mythological story ,the devil ,who was expelled from Heaven,searches for a paradise on Earth,finds this place and leaves a footprint in the place he stepped on.People who come to see the footprint of the devil do not neglect to make their wishes.

Then drive to Cunda ısland , also called Alibey Island, (Turkish: Cunda Adası, Alibey Adası), Greek Moschonisi is the largest of the Ayvalık Islands archipelago in Turkey, which was historically called the Hekatonisa or Moschonisia archipelago in Greek. It lies in the Edremit Gulf on the Turkey's northwestern coast, off the coast of Ayvalık in Balıkesir Province, Turkey, with an area of 23 square kilometres (9 sq mi). It is located 16 kilometres (10 miles) east of Lesbos, Greece.

You will visit Taksiyarhis Church.The church was built by the Alibey(Cunda) Island Greek Orthodox (Moschonese) community on its old foundations as the Metropolitan Church.At the time of its construction ,the majority of Cunda Island was Greek and the Greek population was around 8.000-10.000.the church is attributed to ‘’Taksiyarhis’’,the Guardian Archangels Gabriel and Mikhail.It still constitutes the most important monument of Cunda Island.

In 1927-1928 ,the church building was converted into a mosque without a minaret .In the following periods ,it stood abandoned for a while,then it was registered as an’’immovable cultural property to be protected and preserved for a long time by temporary measures.In 2011,the church building allocated to the Rahmi M.Koç Museum and Culture Foundation was restored and took its current form.

The bell inside was removed during the World War II and used to inform the public.It was later revealed that this bell was the largest bell in the World.this bell is now exhibited in the Bergama Museum in Berlin,the capital of Germany.

You can see the church of Agios Yannis .The church ,which is one of the most striking buildings with the windmill,on the top of the ısland center was restored and started to serve as Sevim and Necdet Kent Library.

Another historical texture that you should not leave without seeing during your visit to Ayvalık is the historical mills.There are 3 mills in cunda Island.While one of the mills is used as a restaurant by a private enterprise,another mill is not open to use.The third mill, along with the Agios Yannis Church,eas bought and restored by Rahmi Koç.

End of the day ,you arrive to  Çesme

DURATIONS :

İZMİR           : 10 hours

KUSADASI   : 12 hours

ÇESME         : 12 hours

THE GUIDE MAY CHANGE THE ROUTE FOR THE VENUES

THE CAPACITY OF THE TOUR MAXIMUM 12 PAX