Another excellent excursion for Club La Costa members and guests that are holidaying in our Apollonium Spa & Beach resort is Ephesus.
Ephesus contains the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. Only 15% has been excavated, but the ruins that are visible now give some idea of the city’s original splendour. The remains lie in the valley between mount Bülbül and Mount Panayir to the south of the Selçuk valley, where the river Minor Meander flows into the Aegean Sea.
Ephesus was built by the Etruscans around 3000BC and flourished as a maritime trade centre. There are many wondrous sights to be seen including important monuments such as Harbour Street, the Amphitheatre which can seat 44,000 and is still used for concerts today, the Library of Celcius, the Temple of Harian, the Street of Curetes and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and now represented only by one excavated column.
Archaeological projects of the last decade have concentrated on excavation of the city’s patrician mansions with their stunning mosaic floors. Ephesus is believed to be the city of the Seven Sleepers who are considered saints by both Christians and Muslims, and their story tells that they were persecuted because of their belief in God and that they slept in a cave near Ephesus for centuries.
The nearby city of Selçuk is dominated by the mediaeval ruins of the Crusaders complete with castle and church of the Knights of St John. The House of St Mary can also be found here and is believed to have been the last home of the ‘Virgin Mary’ and one of the world’s most famous places of pilgrimage.
This excursion is available to book in Reception of the Apollonium Spa & Beach resort and runs every Tuesday and Friday departing at 8.00am and returning at 5.00pm. Prices include entrance fee, local guide, transportation to and from the attraction, an open buffet meal or BBQ and two stops for shopping.
Loading ...
