Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary - Private and Shore Tour

Drive up a to a scenically wonderful coastal road before we reach the House of Virgin Mary. It is known with certainty That the Virgin Mary went to Ephesus and lived there for some time. Whether or not she died in Ephesus was not known until Anne Catherine Emmerich’s vision. The stigmatized German nun who had never been to Ephesus had a vision of the House of the Virgin Mary and described it in detail to the German writer Clemens Brentano who later published a book about it. Officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1896 , became a popular place of pilgrimage.

Continue your visit with the ancient city of Ephesus. Famous in antiquity for its temple of Diana, during the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. Upon arrival at Ephesus follow your guide to enter the ancient site through the Magnesia Gate. Discover innumerable monuments including the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the Great Theatre built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period, which is still noted for its remarkable acoustics. View the symbols all around and marvel at the fact that one is still able to read the inscriptions in the ancient Greek language.

Before returning to the ship, you will visit a local cooperative to learn how hand-woven Turkish carpets are produced, an exclusive Discovery Series event.