Type: Antiquities, Culture, Free Time, Local Handicrafts, Mosque, Wine Tasting
Length: 8 Hours
Walking: Difficult - uneven surfaces
Mobility: NO wheelchairs
Guide: Licensed Guide
Language: English

Izmir Shore Excursion - This full day shore tour visits the ancient site of Ephesus, the Isa Bey Mosque and also a typical local village where you can sample local wines, Turkish coffee and shop for local handicrafts.

Your licensed guide will meet you at the pier in Izmir and you immediately depart for the magnificent site of Ephesus. Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greco/Roman cities in Anatolia, and while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site your guide will bring them back to life.

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 24,000 spectators. It is here that St. Paul preached.

Your visit also includes the Terrace Houses, also known as the "houses of the rich". Most tours do not include this section of Ephesus but for those people who have seen them, it is one of the highlights. There are six residential units on three terraces on the lower slope of the Bulbul Mountain. Of the six, two are open for tours. The oldest of the buildings date back to the 1st century BC. The houses are well known for their floor mosaics and the frescoes on the walls. Seeing the houses gives you a better glimpse of life in ancient Roman times.

Next you drive to Sirince Village, located in the rolling hills of the countryside, this quaint old Orthodox Village was once named "Cirkince", meaning "ugly". Its inhabitants gave it that name so that they would not be bothered by outsiders wishing to share the beauty of their village. As the years passed visitors who fell under its charms understood, and have since called it "Sirince", meaning "pretty".

Today this village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture. After the Turkish Independence War in the 1920's, many people of Greek origin moved back to Greece and people of Turkish origin moved back to Turkey. This village is an example of these two cultures having lived together.

There is free time to enjoy lunch and you have a chance to see local life in a small village. You can purchase some handicrafts or sample local wines which are made from grapes and other fruits. Here you can mingle with the local people as though you were a guest in their home. Consider having a cup of traditional Cay (Tea) or Turkish coffee at the main coffee house in the village.

Later this afternoon you stop at the Isa Bey Mosque in Selcuk. This mosque is a beautiful example of Seljuk Turkish architecture and the oldest known example of a Turkish mosque with a courtyard. The mosque was in 1375 and contains columns and stones from the ruins of the city of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis. At the end of the day, you are brought back to the pier in Izmir.

Tips on visiting Turkey:

Mosques - Shoes must be removed to enter a Mosque, and you may be required to carry them with you in a plastic bag during your visit. We suggest bringing socks to slip on if you are not wearing them. Women should carry a scarf because they may be asked to cover their heads. Bare shoulders, shorts, and dresses above the knee are not allowed. Please come prepared, or you may be turned away.

Shopping - If additional time is available during your tour, many guides will ask if you are interested in seeing how Turkish carpets are made or if you wish to shop. These free demonstrations are very interesting and quite informative, but they are also a selling opportunity. Decide on your interest and tell your tour guide clearly whether shopping interests you or not. You should never feel obligated to make a purchase on any tour.