Izmir
Turkey's third largest city has a long and colourful history dating back to the third millennium BC when it was known as Smyrna. Often called the "Pearl of the Aegean", Izmir is blessed with beautiful beaches amidst the ancient ruins of great civilisations, mosques built as early as the 16th century, churches, parks, a myriad of art and culture. Entertainment activities and shopping for unusual antiques can be found at the Kemeralti Market.
SuperStar Libra Shore Excursions:
LIZM-1 – Pergamon & Asclepion
Depart from the pier for a visit to Pergamon, an intellectual center of Asia Minor in antique times and an ancient healing center – Asclepion. Following a drive through the country side, stop at the ruins of great city of Pergamon – a center of learning and arts, which possessed one of the greatest libraries of antiquity. In Acropolis of Pergamon, above the modern town, are the remains of the celebrated library, a steep and impressive amphitheater, the temples of Trajan and Dyonisus, the monumental altar of Zeus, the sanctuary of Demeter, a gymnasium laid out on three terraces and the Agora. Next, stop at Asclepion, located to the southwest of the lower city, which was a sanctuary dedicated to the god of health, Asclepios. The healing center, Asclepion, had been something very similar to a modern natural healing clinic. Patients were given exercises, drugs, herbal remedies, or could take the honey cure, drink the waters of the springs to be treated. Snakes were sacred to Asklepios because of their power. Among the famous physicians of the Asclepion was Galen.
LIZM-2 – Ephesus Halfday
The city of Ephesus is one of the most interesting and extensive ancient cities in the world, and the center of the attraction in the Aegean Region. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple once considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times. Ephesus was a cult center attracting thousands of pilgrims for traditional worship of the female, first Cybele, then Artemis and finally the Virgin Mary in the Christian Period. Ephesus was also home for the early philosopher Heraclitus, who expresses the notion of eternal change in terms of the continuous flow of the river, which always renews itself. The ruins of the Ephesus Antique Site include a Grand amphitheater, which is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. It was originally a 3C BC Hellenistic theater, which was later restored and adapted and expanded in the 1C AD by the Romans until it reached its present seating capacity of 24,000 people. It is still used today for important public performances. The Library of Celsus, at the intersection of the Curetes and the Marble Streets, built in the 2C AD by a Roman Consul in the memory of his father, was perfectly reconstructed as almost all pieces were found in the excavations. The Temple of Hadrian displays a great architectural style. The relief and the decoration on the façade of this 2nd century Corinthian Temple are unique. The decorative relief on the inner wall of the porch depicts the legendary founder of the city, Androklos, and his works. The Scholastic Baths, the Odeon, the Lower Agora and the State Agora are among the other ruins.
LIZM-3 – Izmir Orientation
Explore the third largest city in Turkey, known in Turkish as “Beautiful Izmir”, the city lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf furrowed by ships and yachts. Behind the palm lined promenades and avenues, which follow the shoreline the city in horizontal terraces, gently ascends the slopes of surrounding mountains. The original city was established in the third millennium BC (at present day Bayrakli), at which time it shared with Troy the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia. By 1500 BC it had fallen under the influence of the Central Anatolian Hittite Empire. In the first millennium BC Izmir, then known as Smyrna, ranked as one of the most important cities of the Ionian Federation. During this period, one of the city’s most brilliant, it is believed that Homer resided here. Izmir is the second largest city in Turkey and the second largest port after Istanbul. During the orientation tour of the city the tour guide will point the Konak clock tower, Konak Mosque, Atatürk Monument, Passport pier, Alsancak Train Station, Kemeralti shopping area, Izmir Fair and many other points of interest. Stop and visit Agora, the ancient market place, which was built during the reign of Alexander the Great. Before returning to the pier you will also visit the Archaeological Museum, which has a nice collection of antiquities, of which the statue of Poseidon and Demeter from the Agora is a fine example.
LIZM-4 – Virgin Mary & Ephesus
The Virgin Mary house is situated at the peak of Bulbul Mountain, 9 kilometers (15 miles) from Selcuk. This is the place where Mary supposedly spent the last days of her life. It has been declared a place of pilgrimage in 1892 by the Archbishop of Smyrna and has since then been visited by many Christian pilgrims. Journey on to the city of Ephesus – one of the most interesting and extensive ancient cities in the world, and the center of the attraction in the Aegean Region. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple once considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times. Its latest form from the third century BC. Ephesus was a cult center attracting thousands of pilgrims for traditional worship of the female, first Cybele, then Artemis and finally the Virgin Mary in the Christian Period. The city has been excavated for more than 100 years; the extensive remains are predominantly from the later Roman Period. The ruins of the Ephesus Antique Site include a Grand amphitheater, which is one of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. It was originally a 3C BC Hellenistic theater, which was later restored and adapted and expanded in the 1C AD by the Romans until it reached its present seating capacity of 24,000 people. It is still used today for important public performances. The Library of Celsus, at the intersection of the Curetes and the Marble Streets, built in the 2C AD by a Roman Consul in the memory of his father, was perfectly reconstructed as almost all pieces were found in the excavations. The Temple of Hadrian displays a great architectural style. The decorative relief on the inner wall of the porch depicts the legendary founder of the city, Androklos, and his works. The Scholastic Baths, the Odeon, the Lower Agora and the State Agora are among the other ruins.
