Fullday (8hours) Ephesus & Villages

Fullday (8hours) Ephesus & Villages

Meet with your guide in front of the Kusadasi port passenger Terminal. Depart the pier for  the 20 minute drive to one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world: TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS. After seeing Temple of Artemis drive to the magnificent ancient site of  EPHESUS. Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greek/Roman cities in Anatolia  and  while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site, your guide  will bring them alive. You will see the beautiful Celsus Library, restored and  reconstructed according to its original form by the architect Friedmund Hueber  in the 1970's. The most spectacular building of Ephesus is the Grand Theater,  built during the Hellenistic age to hold 25,000 spectators. It is there that St.  Paul preached. Opposite the Temple of Hadrian are the Hill Houses, homes of  Ephesus' wealthy citizens. The city was also the hometown of great philosopher  Heraclitus. After a visit to Ephesus Antique Site, you will arrive at SIRINCE  VILLAGE. This old Orthodox Village, 30 km from Kusadasi, was once  «Cirkince»(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they  did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it «Sirince» (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek  houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received  the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the  local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and  handicrafts. The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. Your last stop will be the visit to the ISA BEY MOSQUE, a delicate masterpiece of Turkish architecture from the fourteenth century.