Tour Turkey: 4 Key Things to See When You Visit the Ephesus Area

Many people, when they come to Turkey, travel to several destinations and only have a few days at each place. The Ephesus area is the home of many amazing historical sites and it is difficult to know where to go if you only have a few days. If you have limited time when are you are visiting the Ephesus area on your trip to Turkey, here are a few key places to see.



Ephesus Ancient Site



As the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus is still richly endowed with marble temples, mosaics and a 25,000 seat Grand Theater. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architecture, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus is also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation in the Bible.



House of the Virgin Mary



On Bulbul Dag (Nightingale Mountain) there is the House of the Virgin Mary where it is believed that she passed the last years of her life and died. The Virgin Mary came to Ephesus together with St. John and was taken up to Panaghia Kapulu Mountain to survive the Roman persecutions. Now the House of the Virgin Mary is recognized as a shrine by the Vatican.



Ephesus Archeology Museum



The Ephesus Archeology Museum is located just a few kilometers from the Ancient Ephesus Site. Almost all of the exhibits are findings from Ephesus, the most spectacular being two life-size statutes of Artemis Ephesia, both of them dating from the middle Roman imperial era.



Sirince Village



If you have a half a day’s time, this pretty old Orthodox village is a perfect mixture of Turkish and Greek culture in the 1920s. This village was once called Cirkince or "Ugly" in Turkish to deter foreigners from coming to this charming village. Sirince is set up on a hill where you can see amazing views of the wine vineyards and peach trees that surround the area. Discover a restored Orthodox Church, women selling handcrafts, olive oil and Sirince Wine. You will have opportunities to socialize with the locals and taste the simple and delicious meals of Aegean cuisine.



These are the basics of things to see in the Ephesus area when you have limited days to tour. If you have more time there are many other sites and day trips from this area that will further your love of Turkey and its rich history.



Dania Lee Demirci is a Travel Specialist for Dos Plumas Travel, a leading American owned tour operator located in Antalya, Turkey. For more information on how you can start planning the trip of a lifetime, visit Dos Plumas Travel's website at www.gotourturkey.com.