Arrival in Izmir

The Basilica of Saint John - Constructed by Justinian I between 548 and 565, the Basilica of Saint John was designed to enshrine the tomb of St. John. It was inspired by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople and replaced a smaller basilica built by Theodosius I. Justinian’s basilica measured 428 by 213 feet, whereas Theodosius’ was 246 by 146 feet. Materials for construction were sourced from Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. The Basilica of Saint John became a significant pilgrimage site for Christians but fell out of mention by the 9th century and was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century. Its ruins were later used to build the Isa Bey Mosque nearby.

The Temple of Artemis - Also known as Artemesium, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in western Turkey was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built by Croesus, king of Lydia, around 550 BCE, it was reconstructed after being burned down by Herostratus in 356 BCE. The temple was renowned for its vast size, measuring over 350 by 180 feet (about 110 by 55 meters), and its magnificent artworks. It was destroyed by invading Goths in 262 CE and never rebuilt. Today, only fragments remain, many of which are housed in the British Museum. Excavations have uncovered traces of both Croesus’s temple and the 4th-century reconstruction, as well as three earlier, smaller temples.

Ephesus Museum - The Ephesus Museum houses artifacts primarily from the excavations of the ancient city of Ephesus, St. Jean Church, Belevi Grave Monument, and other nearby archaeological sites. It is a rich local archaeology museum with significant artifacts for Ephesus and Anatolian archaeology. The exhibits span from 6000 BC through the Chalcolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods.

Ephesus

Ancient City of Ephesus - The first letter in the Book of Revelation was addressed to the church in Ephesus. This ancient port city, whose well-preserved ruins are in modern-day Turkey, was once the most important Greek city and a major trading center in the Mediterranean. Ephesus endured numerous attacks and changed hands many times throughout history. It was also a center of early Christian evangelism and remains a significant archaeological site and Christian pilgrimage destination.

Library of Celsus - The Library of Celsus is an ancient Roman building in Ephesus, Anatolia, now part of Selçuk, Turkey. Commissioned in the 110s A.D. by consul Gaius Julius Aquila as a funerary monument for his father, former proconsul of Asia Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, it was completed during the reign of Hadrian, after Aquila’s death. The library is an architectural marvel and one of the few remaining examples of a Roman Empire library. It was the third-largest library in the Roman world, holding around twelve thousand scrolls. Celsus is buried in a decorated marble sarcophagus beneath the library. The interior space measured roughly 180 square meters (2,000 square feet).

Temple of Hadrian - Dedicated to the deified emperor Hadrian, the Temple of Hadrian was built on the Campus Martius in Rome, Italy by his adoptive son and successor Antoninus Pius in 145 CE. Initially known as the Basilica of Neptune, it has since been correctly identified as the Temple of Hadrian. One cella wall and eleven columns from the external colonnade survive, and the remains have been incorporated into a later building in the Piazza di Pietra. Its facade and architrave were reconstructed and integrated into a 17th-century papal palace by Carlo Fontana, now housing Rome’s Chamber of Commerce. Although only part of the structure remains, excavations and scholarship have provided insights into its construction techniques and stylistic influences, helping to recreate the building’s dynamics and significance in Imperial Rome.

Ephesus Terrace Houses - Located on the hill opposite the Hadrian Temple, the Ephesus terrace houses, also known as “the Houses of the Rich,” provide valuable insights into family life during the Roman period. Built according to the city’s Hippodamian plan, with roads intersecting at right angles, there are six residential units on three terraces at the lower end of the Bulbul Mountain slope. The oldest building dates back to the 1st century BC and was used as a residence until the 7th century AD. The terrace houses are covered with protective roofing resembling Roman houses. The mosaics on the floors and the frescoes have been preserved, and two houses have been opened to the public as a museum.

Denizli & Pamukkale

Laodikeia Antik Kenti - The seventh and final letter in the Book of Revelation was addressed to the church in Laodicea. This ancient city is located in the Lycus River Valley, along with Hierapolis and Colossae, a natural east-west travel route. Founded by Seleucid king Antiochus II and named after his wife Laodice around 260 BC, Laodicea was a significant city in its time.

Hierapolis & Pamukkale - Hierapolis, meaning “Holy City,” was an ancient Greek city situated on hot springs in classical Phrygia, southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and now form an archaeological museum. The site includes the Tomb of Philip the Apostle. The hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC, attracting many patrons who retired or died there. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, including that of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, which features a relief depicting the earliest known example of a crank and rod mechanism. The great baths were constructed with massive stone blocks without cement and included various interconnected sections. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988.

Pamukkale - Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province, southwestern Turkey. Known for its white carbonate mineral terraces formed by thermal spring water, visitors can climb the white hill and swim in a hot spring pool at the top. It’s a breathtaking natural wonder.

Alasehir, Salihli & Akhisar

Sardis (Sardes) - One of the oldest cities in Asia Minor, Sardis was located along a highway stretching from the Persian city of Susa, paralleling the Tigris River, through Cappadocia to Sardis. Situated in the Hermus Valley (modern R. Gediz) on the banks of a southern tributary, the Pactolus (modern Sart Cay), and north of the Tmolus Mountains (modern Bozdag).

Akhisar - Known in ancient times as Thyatira, modern-day Akhisar was a significant trade center, especially for textiles during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The city lay along a corridor following a north-south riverbed connecting the Caicus and Hermes riverbeds. It was a cultic center for Apollo (the sun god) and home to wealthy trade guilds. For centuries, it served as a frontier fort, first for Seleucus I of Syria’s western territory and later for the eastern frontier of the Pergamene Kingdom. It transitioned from Pergamon to Roman control in 133 BCE.

Bergama & Izmir

Izmir Bergama Museum - This museum in Bergama showcases numerous historical Roman and Byzantine monuments and Ottoman cultural artifacts.

Pergamon Ancient City - Pergamum, also known as Pergamon or Pergamos, was an illustrious city in Asia Minor, renowned for its imaginative town planning and royal status. Located 16 miles inland from the Aegean Sea, two miles north of the Caicus River (modern Bakir Cay) in southern Mysia, it was about 57 miles north of Izmir. The city was built on a precipice about 1165 feet above sea level, with terraces overlooking the Caicus River valley leading to the city’s entry gate.

The Acropolis - Situated within the ruins of Pergamum, the Acropolis is a stunning testament to the city’s ancient glory. It’s truly a breathtaking sight.

Old Smyrna - Due to Izmir’s status as the second-largest city in Turkey, the site of ancient Smyrna has seen limited excavation. Apart from the agora, theater, and sections of the Roman aqueduct, little remains of the ancient city.

• Entrance fees
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Bottled water
• Breakfast
• Private transportation
• Coffee and/or tea