Private Ephesus Highlights from Kusadasi Port

After disembarking from the ship at the Kusadasi Port, you will be greeted by your guide and board your minivan at the bus parking terminal. The drive from Kusadasi to the ancient city of Ephesus takes roughly 20 minutes, during which the guide will give some pre-information about Ephesus. Upon arrival at Ephesus, you will enter through the lower main gate, which is located closer to the important sites.

The harbor city Ephesus was the point of departure for the famous royal highway that led through Sardis into Lydia. Due to its location, Ephesus developed into an important political and economic center, and became the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. The remains of this important Ionian city still stand miraculously today, as vivid witnesses of a glorious past. You will visit the gymnasium, the beautiful Celsus Library and the Grand Theater.

After your visit, you will walk to the main coach park which is located very close to the theater and continue to the Temple of Artemis which is known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.Then drive to House of Virgin Mary, which is located on Mt. Koressos. The house was discovered in the 19th century by following the descriptions in the reported visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), a Roman Catholic nun and visionary. Catholic pilgrims visit this place based on the belief that Virgin Mary was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there until her death. The shrine has received several papal blessings and visits, the earliest pilgrimage coming from Pope Leo XIII in 1896, and the most recent in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI. A water source can be found at the exit of the church area which is said to have healing qualities.

Your next stop is the ruins of the Basilica of St. John. This basilica was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century and it supposedly stands over the original burial site of St. John the Apostle. After the Roman and Greek cultural experiences you will have a chance to see something Turkish : Turkish handicrafts.Then you will return back to the ship.