DİSCOVERY of ANCIENT EPHESUS 16 

THE HOUSE of V.MARY – CAVE of SEVEN SLEEPERS – THE BASILICA of ST JOHN-THE TEMPEL OF ARTEMIS AND ISABEY MOSQUE / HOLY PLACES OF ANCIENT EPHESUS

Today you’ll drive first to the the Shrine of the Virgin Mary where she supposedly her later days .

Located on the top of the "Bulbul" mountain 7 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of Virgin Mary enjoys a marvelous atmosphere hidden in the green. It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come in the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded place.

The house of Virgin Mary is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, has been built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims). A front kitchen fell into ruins and has been restored in 1940's. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors. From there one can understand that this building looks more like a church than a house. Another interesting place is the "Water of Mary", a source to be found at the exit of the church area and where rather salt water, with curative properties, can be drunk by all.

Then,you’ll see the Cave of seven Sleepers.

The Grotto of the Seven Sleepers is located on Mount Pion, near Ephesus and is the site of many different religious myths. According to Christian legend, seven persecuted Christians fled from Ephesus and took refuge in a cave. When they were discovered the cave was sealed trapping them inside. Two centuries later after an earthquake, the cave was revealed and the seven sleepers awoke and wandered into town, only to discover their friends were dead and it was thought they had undergone some sort of resurrection, resulting in a cult following. In the Koran, it is stated that the sleepers slept for 309 years in their tombs and Christians built a church above the Grotto. Only after the excavations of the church were the tombs discovered.

The Grotto is actually a Byzantine necropolis, with tombs cut into the rocks. The area is well known for its famous Turkish pancakes 

End of the visit of the cave of seven Sleepers,you’ll see on the way to the basilica of St.John , the temple of Artemis and İsa bey mosque in Selcuk.

The Temple of Artemis where is the one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple was dedicated greek fertility goddess Artemis and built in 3rd BC. According to its giant size and being the first temple made of marble, it is accepted as one of the seven wonders of the ancient World

İsa Bey Mosque is in Selcuk district of İzmir,between Artemis Temple and St.Jean Church.It was built in 1375 y Aydınoglu İsa bey.It is the work of Architect Şamlı(Damask) Ali.

İsa bey Mosque is one of the oldest and most spectacular works of Turkısh architecture belonging to the Anatolian Principalities period.It was also used as a caravanserai in the 19th century.

Our last visit the Basilica of St.John.This site is the burial place of St.John,the writer of the gospel of the same name and the disciple who brought the Vırgın Mary to Ephesus.Built to the shape of a cross it has six large domes.The Byzantine Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora had the church built over the site of the grave.In the Byzantine period the entrance in the walls had embossed friezes which showed the pursuit of Achilles and for this reason is known as the ‘’Takip kapısı’’(Pursuit Gate). From the courtyard of the church there is a wonderful panorama of the temple of Artemis İsa Bey Mosque and the Aegean at Pamucak

You’ll have lunch at the local restaurant in Selcuk.

End of the tour you’ll drive to İzmir

DURATIONS :

İZMİR         : 7,5 hours

KUSADASI : 6 hours

ÇESME        : 9 hours

THE GUIDE MAY CHANGE THE ROUTE FOR THE VENUES

THE CAPACITY OF THE TOUR MAXIMUM 12 PAX