Read history in the ruins of the Library of Celsus in Ephesus; discover the fine art of Turkish pottery in Antalya; marvel at the archaeological dig at Catal Huyuk, uncovering Stone Age homes burrowed in the sand over 9,000 years ago; and meet picturesque villages in the mountains between Antalya and Konya.
5. EPHESUS – THE AMAZON CITY A lecture this morning on the role of women in modern Turkish society (the most secular in the Muslim world) is a prelude to your visit to Ephesus and its spectacular ruins. The city was a bastion of women’s rights and education in the ancient world (legend says the city was founded by Amazons) and site of the largest temple dedicated to Artemis, the hunter-goddess of Greek mythology – of which only one column remains standing. Ephesus was also a major center of early Christianity, established by St. Paul (who spent time in prison here). Explore the remains of its former glory... the Greek amphitheatre, the hollow facade of the Library of Celsus, the paved streets, the frescoed walls, and the scholastic baths... and imagine the days when pagan goddesses and female artists ruled. Meals BL
6. ANTALYA PLUS THE RUINS OF PERGE Fly to the resort town of Antalya on the Mediterranean, gateway to the Turkish Riviera. Drive to the ruins of Perge, one of the richest cities in the ancient world, whose remains include gate towers, a theatre, and a colonnaded street once lined with statues (which you’ll see tomorrow at the museum in Antalya). Home to some of the oldest Christian communities, St. Paul delivered one of his first sermons here. Unwind tonight at Kempinski Hotel The Dome, a luxury hotel on the Belek beachfront, featuring Seljuk decor and stunning views of the sea and mountains. Meals BLD
7. ALL ABOUT ANTALYA,MUSEUM & OLD TOWN Turkey’s history unfolds through art and artifacts dating from the Stone Age onward in the Antalya Museum’s exhibition halls; most impressive is the Hall of Gods, featuring extraordinary mythological statues. Wander the colorful backstreets of Kaleici, Antalya’s Old Town, a maze of shops, tea gardens and coffeehouses. Tonight, learn the secret of making Turkish coffee (kahve), a process that leaves dregs in the cup, suitable for fortune-telling. Meals BD
8. KONYA, RUMI’S TOMB AND CATAL HUYUK A scenic drive through the Taurus Mountains brings you to Konya, once a trading center on the Silk Road, famous as the resting place of the Sufi poet Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) who founded the order of Whirling Dervishes, a sect that strives for spiritual ecstasy through poetry, music and dance. The mausoleum, the Mevlana Complex, is as visually rich in Seljuk art as Rumi’s poetry is passionate, and is sure to leave you speechless. No less, perhaps, than the ruins at Catal Huyuk, outside Konya, where the pueblo-style Stone Age village of an advanced civilization survived for over 1,000 years. Meals BLD
Learn about poet Rumi at the Mevlana Complex in Konya. 50
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