Best vacation places to see in Ephesus? Pamukkale is 3 hours drive from Kusadasi town. Right by the natural wonders the ancient city of Hierapoolis was founded. Today a unesco heritage site. Its natural beauty and historical background attracts many travellers. Pamukkale means cotton castle. There are two reasons why the area is name as cotton castle. One reason the white cliffs look like a castle made of white cotton, the other reason is that the area houses lots of cotton processing factories. Natural thermal springs which has high density of chalk inside formed glacier looking terraces on the areas where flowed for thousands of years. It is a unique site. Ancient Hierapolis was founded by Pergamum Kingdom. Due to the existence of thermal waters which healed people. Thousands of patients came to the area to get cured. The ones who were not able to be cured died and buried in the area. Today the site has the largest ancient necropolis. The number of thumbs like sarcaphaguses excavated is over 1600. The total number is expected to be over 3000. St. Philip the apostle lived in the city and martyred during the persecution time to the christians. This is a must see site for travellers. See many more info on best of ephesus tours.
This citadel-like basilica once occupied the whole breadth of the hill it sits on and was ranked with the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now the Aya Sofya) as one of the Byzantine Empire’s largest churches. According to tradition, the grave of St. John is under the church. Originally, a mausoleum with a domed roof borne on four columns was built over the grave, but the Emperor Justinian replaced this simple monument with a three-aisled basilica on a Latin-cross plan boasting six domed roofs. Including the narthex at the western end and the arcaded courtyard, the basilica was 130 meters long and 40 meters wide. After the Seljuks captured Ephesus in 1130, the church was converted into a mosque and later served as a bazaar until it was finally destroyed by an earthquake. Although only partially restored, the basilica ruins that remain give a good idea of the awesome size of the original building.
Ayasuluk Fortress sits on the hill above the Basilica of St. John and is accessed by a trail that leads up from behind the basilica. This hilltop site has been settled since the Neolithic period, but the fortress dates from the Byzantine era, and the fortifications were extended by the Seljuks. The fortress area was closed for years due to archaeologists excavating the site, but it has now been opened to visitors. The mighty enclosure wall had 15 rectangular towers. Inside, there’s not much to see, except for a small Seljuk-era mosque, but the views over town and the surrounding countryside are wonderful from the hilltop, making a trip here well worth the uphill walk.
Virgin Mary is also known as the mother of Jesus, a central figure of Christianity. Before Jesus was crucified at the age of 33; he entrusted his mother to his friend and apostle St. Jean. St. Jean brings Virgin Mary to the biggest and the most peaceful city of the age, Ephesus. She is thought to have spent her last days in the House of the Virgin Mary. A German bedridden patient named Anna Katherina Emmerick was consoling herself with special visions of the life of Jesus and Mary. The advancement of these visions caused her to express historical places, people, and events in more detail. These special visions attracted the attention of one of the German poets of that period, Clemens Brentano. For this reason, the poet moved to a house close to where the woman was and started to take notes of what the woman said. The poet compiled what Anna Katharina Emmerick said and published a book called The Life of Mary.
Turkey is full of wonders but undoubtedly Ephesus Ancient City Tour is one of the best attraction for tourists. Ephesus known as the capital of Rome in Asia Minor, an important transit point on route of merchant ships. Thus become an issue of battles along the history. Ephesus tours from kusadasi port is also mostly preferred as a biblical sightseeing for guests into Christian history. Ephesus Ancient City was the final home of Virgin Mary and St John. It is known as where St. John wrote the Gospel of John; the letters John I, John II and John III. The letter written in Ecumenical Council held in Ephesus (AD 431) stated that ‘the city of Ephesus as where the John and Mary lived’. Also Ephesus known as the city where St. Paul lived almost 3 years for missionary works. Best Ephesus Tours is fully knowledgeable and experienced with Private Ephesus Tours for the guests interested in Christianity history also. Read a lot more details at bestephesustours.com.
Located right next to the Celsus Library, the square is the city’s most important trade and cultural center, Agora, which is the marketplace. Agora has a total of 3 doors, and was built in BC. It was founded in the 3rd century during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Agora was damaged due to a big earthquake in the 4th AC. century and became unusable. In the 6th century AC, a new agora was established in the northern part using the remains here. The section where the newly established agora is located today serves as the Gendarmerie barracks center and entrance to that area is prohibited.