IZM/31 - Half day Shore Excursion to Izmir without lunch

The Aegean is heir to more than 5000 years history, culture and mythology. Along the full length of the coast, lies fishing villages, holiday centers and many ruins of ancient civilizations.

The area has been under the successive influence of Aelions, Lydians, Persians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans.

Today Izmir, once called Smyrna is Turkey's third most populous city and the country's largest port after Istanbul. İzmir has almost 3,500 years of urban past,

The tour of Izmir includes a visit to the ancient Agora the commercial amrket dating back to 300 BC, the “Old Elevator Building” 101 years old and from the top the best view over looking the city, to the Ethnographical museum and Kemeraltı Bazaar the historic market from the 18th century.

IZM/32 - Full Day Shore Excursionn to Ephesus with lunch

Drive to Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia minor which remains to be the best preserved ancient city in the world.

During the golden age of the Roman Empire (2nd century AD),
Ephesus was an important commercial and cultural center. The protector of the city was Artemis, the Goddess whose temple was one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”.

The Ephesians were still worshipping Artemis, the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. She was the Hellenic goddess of forests and hills, child birth/virginity/fertility, the hunt and was often depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrows.

When St. Paul came to the city to win converts. St. John brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus after the death of Jesus Christ and she lived until the age of 101 in a small house built for her on Mt. Koressos. Now, popular place of pilgrimage for Catholics and Muslims, the house has received the official sanction of the Vatican and a commemoration ceremony is held every year on August 15th. The third church council in 431 was held in the Basilica of Virgin Mary in Ephesus.

Today, the majority of the ruins are beautifully restored and one can visit a complete city including the Arcadian Way, the Great Theater (for 125,000 people), the Marble Road, the Celsius Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Trojan Fountain, and the Gymnasium.

The tour includes the House of Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John and the museum at Selcuk.

IZM/35 - Jewish Heritage in Izmir and Sardis

Drive to Sardis, an ancient political and cultural center of Anatolia and the capital of Kingdom of Lydia.

After the prosperous days of Lydian period, the city continues to flourish through the periods of Alexander the Great, the Romans and the Byzantines until it was in inhabited by the Turks. It was here in Sardis that one of the “Seven Churches” had been found.

Sardis has the largest known ancient synagogue from the 3rd Century B.C. which was a part of large Gymnasium. The Artemis temple was one of the largest ancient temples with 8 columns at each end and 20 along each side.

After lunch drive back to Izmir, and visit Beth Israel Synagogue and Dario Moreno Street.