|
|
|
Our
tour starts at 9.00 hrs, when we pick you up
from your hotel.
On our way, our first stop is at Soke Market.
Then we continue our way and Priene is the first
on the tour to be seen. Priene used to be one of
the most active ports of the Ionian Federation.
As the city had been
demolished, its restoration has been planned by
the famous city planner and architect,
Hippodamos, who used for the first time the
"Grating System": all the constructions were
turned to the South in order to benefit a
maximum of the day light. The roads were
crossing perpendicularly to give the best
ventilation system to the city.
After 200 years of Pergamon Kingdom rule, it
became first a Roman city and then a Byzantine
city. Finally an earthquake and malaria became
two major reasons for the end of the city's
inhabitation.
The most magnificent constructions that can be
seen are: 4th BC Athena Polias
Temple, which was reconstructed by Alexander the
Great as a gift to the city ( the city being one
of his favourites), The Great Theater – great
beauty of the Hellenic World, Parliament
Building, Fish Market and the city walls.
Then we drive to Miletos, the home town of
Olympic Games, one of the greatest and richest
of all the Greek cities. Miletos is the home of
ancient philosophers and sages such as Thales (
the father of Mathematics), Hekataios,
Anaximender and closer to us Isidorus, the
architect of Ayasofia in Istanbul.
Miletos is one of the most attractive sites of
Turkey, including: the theater where St. Paul
gave his emotional good bye message to the
elders of Ephesus, Baths of Faustina, The
Delphinion ( small temple dedicated to Apollo
Delphinion, protector of ships and harbors),
Temple of Athena, Nymphaeum north and south
Agoras, the Harbour Monument and 15th
century Ilyasbey Mosque.
We take break for lunch / open buffet in a nice
restaurant. After lunch we continue our tour
with visiting the ancient city of Didym. We
visit the famous Temple of Apollo, one of the
antiquity’s most sacred places. Words are not
enough to describe Apollo Temple because of its
amazing dimensions. It measured 118 meters by 60
meters, which is slightly larger than a football
field. There were 128 finely decorated columns,
some of which are 19.50 meters high. It was
connected to Miletus with a holy road of 19km.
The temple was famous all over the Greek world
for its oracles so that it even surpassed the
reputation of Delphi. The reason for which the
harbor of Panamos near Didym became very busy
and was visited by lots of commanders, ordinary
and respected people, is that they wanted to
learn their future from the priests of the
temple. The oracle ceremonies were in two steps
: the Pithy would first comment the glitters on
the waters of a well and then the priests would
translate these into literal and impressive
words.
Before heading back to Kusadasi, we have a
swimming break on Golden Sand Beach/ Altinkum,
Didyma.
The tour finishes around 18.00
hrs with dropping you off at your hotel. |
