Miletus was originally inhabited by a Neolithic population in 3500–3000 BC. The New Testament mentions Miletus as the site where the Apostle Paul in AD 57 met with the elders of the church of Ephesus near the close of his Third Missionary Journey

Recorded history at Miletus begins with the records of the Hittite Empire and the Mycenaean records of Pylos and Knossos, in the Late Bronze Age. Priene possessed a great deal of famous Hellenistic art and architecture. The city’s original position on Mount Mycale has never actually been discovered; however, it is believed that it was a peninsula possessing two harbours. Miletus is the birthplace of the Hagia Sophia’s architect (and inventor of the flying buttress) Isidore of Miletus and Thales, a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher (and one of the Seven Sages of Greece) in c. 624 BC. Didyma was the largest and most significant sanctuary on the territory of the great classical city Miletus. To approach it, visitors would follow the Sacred Way to Didyma, about 17 km long.

DAY 1: IZMIR – PERGAMON – SELCUK

Pick up from Izmir airport. Travel to the majestic Greek city of Pergamon for a tour of the Aesclepion, temple of Athena, library and palace. Overnight Selcuk (D)

DAY 2: EPHESUS

A full day reserved to visit the biblical city of Ephesus, the ancient Roman capital of Asia Minor. Ephesus is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world and center of early Christianity. Visit the chapel of the Virgin Mary and the nearby archeological museum. Overnight Selcuk (B/D)

DAY 3: PRIENE, MILETUS & DIDYMA – IZMIR

We depart from Kusadasi for Priene, Miletus & Didyma. Alexander the Great assigned the city of Priene to watch the unreliable city of Miletus. He also lived in the city and paid for the construction of the Temple of Athena Polias. After flourishing during the Hellenistic and passing through the Pergamene Kingdom periods the city declined under Roman rule and was later abandoned. Later we visit Miletus, the most magnificent building is – the Great Theatre, a remarkably intact 25,000-seat amphitheater built by the Ionians and kept up by the Romans. And Didyma the Temple of Apollo is among the world’s most impressive religious structures. Drive through the inland villages to Izmir Airport for ongoing des. (B)

Departure:

Min. pax = 2 (two persons) Pick-up time at 09:00 from Izmir airport