İzmir (Ephesus), Turkey

Agora in Izmir

In İzmir, an agora has been preserved, built in Roman times near the city center at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The main structures date back to the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius; they were erected after the earthquake of 178 AD. Agoras in ancient cities were the hub of close social interaction, a kind of separate public institution. The importance of such squares in commercial, religious, and political terms was simply immense. In addition to its primary purpose, the agora was a place where people of art, philosophers and thinkers, and scholars from various fields would meet.

Kadıfekale Castle

Kadifekale Castle is one of the vivid ancient architectural landmarks. Translated from Turkish, “Kadifekale” means “velvet castle.” Kadifekale was built in the 4th century BC by Lysimachus, a general of Alexander the Great. Today five towers of the fortress and its southern wall have survived. The other structures have been reconstructed. Today, Kadifekale Castle, built back during the reign of Alexander the Great, is ready to welcome everyone who wants to “talk” with history within its ruined walls. Rising over İzmir, it offers an excellent viewing platform, from which you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the Gulf of İzmir.

Ephesus Theatre (Ephesus)

The Ephesus Theatre is considered an architectural monument, the best preserved of its kind to this day in this archaeological site. At the time, all structures were divided into three sections. The theatre was no exception-it consisted of a stage building (including the proscenium), a seating area for visitors, and a circular platform where the choir performed. The building could accommodate up to 24-25 thousand seats. In relation to the stage, the theatre hall rose by about 30 meters and ended with a portico-all of which helped improve the acoustics. The choir’s performances on stage took place in the evening, while during the day gladiators and animals took part in the arena.

Celsus Library (Ephesus)

The Library of Celsus was built in the years 114-135 in honor of Tiberius Julius Celsus, a Roman proconsul who was highly educated and had a broad outlook. The Library of Celsus is the second largest after the Library of Alexandria. The library burned down in the 3rd century during an attack by the Goths, having existed for about a hundred years. Only the façade of the building has survived to this day, vaguely reminiscent of theatrical sets. The façade is 21 meters long and 16 meters high. The lower tier of the façade is decorated with sculptures of “Virtue,” “Knowledge,” “Wisdom,” and “Thought.” On the left side of the façade are statues of the slaves of Mazaeus and Mithridates- the architects of this magnificent library-who were granted their freedom by the hand of Emperor Augustus after the library was built.

Temple of Artemis (Ephesus)

This ancient architectural monument dates back to the 5th century BC. It is a popular destination among tourists-its ruins have survived to this day. The Temple of Artemis, dedicated to Artemis, is included in the list of the 7 Wonders of the World. The construction of the temple was funded by King Croesus of Lydia, while the architects of the building were HersiPhon and his son Metagenes. The temple was a structure 51 meters wide, 105 meters long, and with its columns rising up to 18 meters in height. In total, the temple was adorned with 127 columns. In the new temple, a statue of Artemis made of ivory and gold was installed. There were also many paintings, statues, and reliefs inside the temple. To this day, only one restored column, rebuilt from the fragments, remains of the magnificent temple.

Temple of Hadrian (Ephesus)

The Temple of Hadrian was built by P. Quintilius in the 130s. Historians came to this conclusion after discovering an inscription engraved on the temple’s architrave. P. Quintilius was not a particularly well-known architect, who devoted his entire life to Emperor Hadrian. Near the monumental gateway there are four pedestals that give an idea of the statues that once stood on them. These were statues of Geterius, Maximilian, Constantius Chlorus, and Diocletian. Two columns in the center support an intricately crafted arch and are the only surviving fragment of the triangular tympanum. The decoration of the portal architraves is especially captivating.

Konak Square

The Konak Square is the busiest part of the oldest city of İzmir. The central feature of the square is the famous Clock Tower, which is the symbol of the city of İzmir. The square is also the entrance point to the large Kemeralti market. Here you can also find the Ege University Cultural Center, which invites visitors to a modern art museum, an opera house, and a music academy. This is a very beautiful part of the city, located very close to the Aegean Sea. On Konak Square there are always many pigeons that you can feed by hand. A great park and lots of small, cozy cafés are waiting for their guests. Konak Square is a wonderful place for walks and for various shopping.

Beach holiday

Near Izmir, the sea water is quite dirty, and beach lovers usually go to Güzel-dere or Foça. Güzel-dere is a small charming village on the outskirts of Izmir that has grown into a resort town, thanks to its excellent sandy beach and crystal-clear coastal seawater. In recent years, several hotels have been built here. Foça is a small town near Izmir with a population of about 10,000. Here, the clean sandy beaches, cozy, picturesque bays, and an ancient fortress attract the attention of thousands of tourists every year. In Izmir itself, swimming is not recommended. It’s better to choose swimming in a pool or visit the world-famous Turkish baths.

Archaeological Museum

In 1927, the Archaeological Museum in Izmir opened its doors to visitors for the first time. The museum’s opening was preceded by about three years of searching for works of art that had slipped from the grasp of foreign archaeologists. The museum’s permanent collection currently includes more than one and a half thousand exhibits discovered during archaeological excavations at the ancient settlements of Bergama, Iasos, Bayraklı, and Çandarli. In the museum courtyard, there are capitals, columns, and enormous amphorae. On the museum’s upper floor, artifacts and items brought from the sites of ancient settlements are on display. On the museum’s first and middle floors, marble exhibits are exhibited. The exhibition on the lower floor is dedicated to burial culture.

Shopping

Being in a Turkish city and not stopping by the bazaar district is practically a crime! The bazaar district starts at Konak Meydani Square. Of course, it’s noisy, bright, and filled with the aromas of spices, seasonings, and Turkish treats. Here you can buy almost everything-from Turkish coffee utensils and fresh fish to shoes and clothing.

Excursion to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary

In this wonderfully well-preserved ancient city, you won’t be able to take your eyes off its temples, fountains, the amphitheatre, and the famous Library of Celsus. You will walk in the footsteps of the famous emperors Trajan, Domitian, Nero, Hadrian and Alexander the Great. Artemis, the huntress-daughter of Zeus-was the patron goddess of Ephesus. The fame of the Temple of Artemis spread across the world, and it is no surprise that it was counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. But on the night of Alexander the Great’s birth, in 356 BC, Herostratus, a resident of Ephesus, who tried in this way to immortalize his name in history, set the great temple on fire. 5 km from the city there is a sacred place for all Christians-the house where the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her last days. The icons found here are renowned for their healing power. The Holy Chapel was recognized by the Vatican, and in 1967 Pope Paul VI honored it with his visit.

Excursion to Bergama Village (ancient city of Pergamon)

In a 1.5-hour drive north of Izmir lies Bergama-today a small, little-known Turkish village, but once the city of Pergamon. There, around the acropolis that rises on a hill, the ruins of the ancient world’s famous library, the antique theater, and also pagan temples dedicated to Dionysus can still be found. There are also the ruins of the Altar of Zeus. This huge marble structure was built two centuries before the birth of Christ and was rightfully considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, like many others, it was destroyed long before archaeologists began their work in Turkey. Near the acropolis there are the ruins of another once-famous landmark-the Temple of Asclepius (known to us as Aesculapius, the god of health and patron of medicine).

You can find a more detailed list of excursions and their prices after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.