Sometimes the best trips are the unplanned additions to trips! This was the case with our recent adventures in Turkey.
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Turkey had not been on my “must travel” list. I had never given it much thought, to be honest. Yet, that all changed when we booked a trip to Greece. The island hopping included a day in Turkey. Kusadasi to be exact.
Kusadasi is the port near historical Ephesus. We debated staying on the ship and taking a rest. We had a hectic few days in Athens and action-packed days to come in a string of Greek islands. But, we jumped on a bus and headed out to the site of Ephesus.
The countryside was beautiful rolling hills dotted with older resorts and waterparks. The guide tells us Turkey had been the resort area for Europe and Russia in the 1980s.
Random Facts About Ephesus
The 4th largest city in the Roman Empire during the 2nd century B.C.
Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Located in Asia Minor near the mouth of the Menderes River (Today west Turkey).
Famous for the Artemeisum and the Library of Celsus
Destroyed by the Goths in 263 A.D. and rebuilt until the harbor became useless.
The city became abandoned when silt built up making the port unreachable.
The House of the Virgin Mary is nearby on Mt. Koressos.
The Library of Celsus was the third-largest library in the ancient world.
The library served as the mausoleum for Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus.
Walking through Ephesus
Your venture back in time begins as you stroll the same paths walked by Marc Antony and Cleopatra. As you walk deeper into the Roman city, you begin to see the more well-preserved shop fronts, brothels, and baths.
At the end of the path looms the Library of Celsus. It is hard not to be immediately distracted by the beautiful structure. Walking the path stop to view the mosaic floors of the shops and take in the fact that you are walking in history. A history shared by The Virgin Mary (whose birthplace is nearby), Saint John, and Saint Paul. The buildings are so well-preserved that you will see life as it was in our earliest civilization.
Waiting like an old friend at the end of the path is the Library of Celsus. Built for the Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus (completed 114-117 A.D.). The library was one of the most impressive buildings in the Roman Empire and home to 12,000 scrolls.
As you walk up the steps to enter the library (yes, you can still do this), ancient statues of the Roman leaders greet you. The statues are in incredible condition allowing the emperors to be recognizable. Inside the library, the flooring remains, and stray cats lounge.
Continuing down the path to the amphitheater, the guide begins detailing more history. The now-classic plays performed on the stage for what may have been the first performances list is long.
I grew up touring many ruins throughout the Southwest USA. This is the first time I felt a part of the history. The area is so preserved (and restored) it takes little imagination to see how life was in that time. Coupled with the history the buildings have been witness to makes the area even more magical.
Angela DiLoreto
Walking around Ephesus, it brought history alive. Instead of reading about Marc Antony and Cleopatra in a book, we were walking in their footsteps. Reading Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in high school painted Marc Antony as a literary figure vs. a true historical figure, but this made him real.
Vince Diloreto
Getting to Ephesus
Cruise into Kusadasi (Included with our Greek Islands cruise)
Adnan Menderes Airport
Tips for Your Trip
Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and get the best photos
Take water with you. There will be no options inside the area, but there are shopping options before and after.
There are restrooms at the entrance and exit only.
The shop owners will be aggressive. They believe the first sale of the day brings them luck all day. You will find excellent deals on saffron!
