The House of the Virgin Mary (Turkish: Meryem Ana Evi, “Mother Mary’s House”)

Staying in Kusadasi gives you an opportunity that you can not miss – to visit Ephesus Ruins and Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Though it can be quite an exhausting tour, especially in hot summer months, it might still be your best choice to go on a full day excursion (9am-17am) because most agencies in that case include a visit to The House of the Virgin Mary (7 km from Selçuk).

Prices of such excursions range up to 40 € but with a little bargaining you can get it for 30 € (bus, entrance fees, and lunch included). Some of the local agencies have great English speaking guides who will give you a lot of information about the places as well as about Selçuk, Turkish culture, education and daily life. If you decide to visit the house on your own, the entrance fee is 11 YTL.

It is believed that St. John had brought Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Ephesus 4-5 years after the death of Christ and that she lived there until her “Assumption into Heaven”. This house which was prepared by St. John beforehand is on Mt. Koressos (Bülbül Daği) and 420 meters high from the sea level. The place of the house where Virgin Mary had spent her last days was found in 1891, by Lazarian priests who used, as a guide, a book written by a German nun Anna Katherina Emmerich who had supposedly established a spiritual communication with Virgin Mary in a trance. It is assumed that the grave of Virgin Mary is also nearby.

The stone building was restored some time later and the statue of Virgin Mary in the apse was placed there about a hundred years ago.

Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors which makes the building look more like a church than a house.

Don’t be surprised if the nuns in the church decide you are not “covered enough” and give you a scarf to wear while you pass through the house.

Even if you are not a religious person, you will be amazed with the house that is in the same time a Christian and Muslim shrine. There is a spring as an addition to the peaceful feeling that the entire place gives as they say that the water from it has healing powers… Next to the spring, there is a board where you can attach a paper or a cloth with your wishes which are burnt from time to time so that the wishes can go into heavens and come true …

Every year, on August 15th, rites in commemoration of Virgin Mary are carried out in the house.

Virgin Mary House Location Map 

EPHESUS

Ephesus (Turkish: Efes) was an Ionian city in ancient Anatolia, located in Ionia, where the Cayster River (Küçük Menderes) flows into the Aegean Sea. The original site of Ancient Ephesus was most likely established on the Aegean coast, on the shores of the sea which is today located 8 km away from the archaeological excavations. It is estimated that it had more than 250,000 inhabitants which makes it the fourth largest city of its time, after Rome, Alexandria and An Antioch.

The archaeological site lies in Anatolia, 3 kilometers south of Selçuk, between Aydin and Izmir and about 20 km north of Kusadasi.

A lot of local agencies offer half day (about 4 hours) excursions to Ephesus which include a visit to the Temple of Artemis and full day excursions which then also include a visit to the House of Virgin Mary (7 km from Ephesus).

They usually charge about 20 euros for a half day and about 30 euros for a full day excursion (with entrance fees and lunch included).

From Kusadasi, you travel north to Ephesus, passing the Byzantine fortress at Selçuk, the ruins of the Temple of Artemis and St. John’s Basilica, Isabey mosque.

The tour through the Ancient City begins at its upper gate with a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. The route takes you by the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The Theater had 25,000 seats, was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians and, today, it is used for a local spring festival.

The site contains the largest collection of Roman ruins at the East of the Mediterranean and it is estimated that only 15% has been excavated. It is also the site of a large gladiator graveyard.

Ephesus is believed to be the city of the Seven Sleepers who are considered saints by Christians and Muslims. The story tells that they were persecuted because of their belief in God and that they slept in a cave near Ephesus for centuries.

Visit to Ephesus might be exhausting, especially during the hot summer months, but it is definitely worth a visit.

Keep in mind that the Ancient City has 1,5 km walking distance along rocky roads and stairs which is why it’s recommended that you wear comfortable shoes. The walk through the site lasts about 2 hours and on your way to the bottom gate you will have a lot of heat to survive until you reach a shop where you can buy some refreshments, so, make sure to bring some water with you. For the same reasons, it is recommended that you wear sun glasses, a hat and (do not forget) sunscreen.

Sirince is a marvellous small Aegean village located on the hills at approximately 350 meters above the sea level, which means a soft climate even in July and August, and in winter freezing and snow.

Most of the houses of this village date from the 19th century or earlier. They were built at one time when Sirince was a village of orthodoxe Greek culture. In 1924, the Greek people left and an exchange of population repopulated it of Turks. The village is located between hills surrounded by peaches trees, vines and plantations of olive. The highest hills are covered with a forest of pine. Almost all the houses open on a superb and immense panorama.

The streets are very favourable for romantic walks. Tourism more or less wasted the charm of this village these last years, that is now full of souvenir shops, a dozen rather expensive restaurants and some pensions.

You can meet in the small streets some rare old people of Greek oirigins, manufacturing with their own hands some fabrics, dolls or crowns of flowers that are sold to the young girls. The craft industry remains the principal activity. The villagers make wine and olive oil, and cultivate some of best fishings in the country.

At the top of the village, you can also visit an old church, deserted and in restoration at the moment.

The archeological site of Ephus is located at 11 kilometers at the bottom of Sirince. A minibus (dolmus) serves Selçuk – the modern city of Ephesus – each half an hour throughout the day

Pamukkale is situated in south-west of Turkey, about 200 km from Kusadasi in the province of Denizli. It is an extraordinary geological curiosity : hot water which runs out of the entrails of the mountain, releases some carbone dixide, that creates precipitate calcium carbonate.

The tectonic movements that took place in the fault depression of the Menderes river basin gave rise to the emergence of a number of very hot springs.Some of these sources have a temperature of more than 45°C, and are saturated with salt, which at the moment of the evaporation of water settle and are petrified on the hillside.

It gives white layers on the stone, and when you look at the mountain, you immediately think about a fortress of cotton or a water fall.

Pamukkale has lots of warm water pools in which you can have a walk and even bathe (but not in all of them). Hierapolis (Holy city), near the springs, has been established by Eumenes II, King of Pergammon, during the 2nd century before J.C.The ancient city of Hierapolis has been developed thanks to the exploitation of its thermal springs. Hiera was the girl’s name of the king.

The Romans built the greatest number of buildings, before the city had been completely rebuilt following a violent one seism into 60. The city was dedicated to the Apollon and Pluton gods.

The ruins of Hierapolis include a grand theater and a vast necropolis (cemetery).

Most of the hotels, and pensions located near the site, have swimming pools filled with the same warm waters in which you can let the calcium make your skin feel sil. Pamukkale is known for being Turkey’s foremost mineral-bath spa.

You can go there from Kusadasi thanks to excursions (about 30 euros), or by regional bus that goes to Denizli. It will take about 3 hours.

The National Park of Dilek Peninsula

If you are looking for a peaceful place with amazing beaches and crystal clear water, National Park is the place for you.

There are regular mini buses to the park leaving every half an hour from the bus station (opposite the Friday Market). They will take you through Davutlar (15-20 minutes from Kusadasi) and another 18km drive after which you will find yourself in true nature’s paradise… The park is known as “Kalamaki” by the locals and it is an ideal site to spend a lazy day away from the city buzz and crowds..

Walking by the beach and woods you will find picnic tables with benches, a restaurant with traditional Turkish food.. Do not be surprised if you run into a wild pig because the place is their natural habitat

There are several Kalamaki beaches; the first one is Icmeler bay which is the only sandy one, then there are Kavakli, Karapinar…

The National Park of Dilek Peninsula covers more than 27.000 hectares of land, 20km long and 6km wide. It is the last point where Samsun Mountains reach the Aegean Sea.

The flora of Dilek Peninsula has a rich variety of plants belonging to 95 families and 804 kinds of plants belonging to various species, 6 of which are endemic, peculiar to the area. In addition to that, the peninsula includes 18 species which are endemic for Turkey. Thanks to that unique diversity of plants, Dilek Peninsula was classified as a Biogenetic Reserve by the European Council

Dilek Peninsula hosts 28 species of mammals, 27 species of reptiles and a great number of marine animals. Furthermore, the extinct Anatolian panther lives there.

Also, the Mediterranean monk seal, which is among the 10 most rare sea mammals in the world lives on the shores of this peninsula, along with boar, caracal, lynx, jackal, hyena, wild cattle and horses…

Globally endangered pygmy cormorant, Dalmatian pelican, which world population is estimated to 3000, white tailed eagle and other 67 bird species breed in the area.

Due to its rich biodiversity and hosting critically endangered and endemic species, Delta region of the park is under protection through International Ramsar, Bern and Rio Agreements and Barcelona Convention.

Panionion, the sacred gathering center of the twelve Ionian cities in the 9th century BC, the antique city of Thebai, Panagia Monastery, the historical village of Doganbey and Karine, the Hagios Monastery and the Cave of Zeus are located within the boundaries of the National Park.