Aphrodisias Tour

Pick up from the hotel early in the morning and drive through the Aphrodisias Ancient site for Aphrodisias Tour. Visit all historical place with accompany of professional guide.

Aphrodisias is one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey. Dedicated to the ancient Mother Goddess and then the Greek goddess Aphrodite, it was the site of a magnificent Temple of Aphrodite and the home of a renowned school of marble sculpture. The Temple of Aphrodite later became a Christian basilica through an impressive swapping of columns. Today, the Temple of Aphrodite is well-preserved and partially restored; it is not hard to imagine its ancient splendor. Aphrodisias also offers ruins of a large theater, a stadium and other structures, as well as an on-site museum displaying artifacts. Join the lunch and rest for a while then drive through Return to Pamukkale or Denizli Hotel.

Aphrodisias Ancient City; The extensive ruins of Aphrodisias are picturesquely situated among fertile fields and cypress groves. The site is less crowded than Ephesus, but most guided tours stop at Aphrodisias en route to Hierapolis/Pamukkale. You can also take a day tour to Aphrodisias using Kusadasi as a base.

The first structure you see upon entry to the site is the Tetrapylon; a lovely 2nd-century gateway with four groups of four Corinthian columns (from which it gets its name). It was extensively repaired and re-erected in 1990. The front row of Corinthian columns, with spiral fluting, face the north-south street. The second and third columns are topped by a semicircular lintel with relief figures of Nike and Erotes amid acanthus leaves.

Fourteen columns of the Ionic Temple of Aphrodite; have been re-erected. It was an "octastyle" temple, with 13 columns on each side and eight columns at the front and back. On some of the columns are inscribed the names of the donors who presented them to the temple.

In the 5th century the temple was turned into a Christian basilica. The new basilica was 60 x 28 m in size, much larger than the pagan temple it replaced. The church had an apse and a synthronon (a stepped bank of clergy benches) at the east end, and a pair of nartheces at the west fronted by a colonnaded courtyard or atrium. The theater of Aphrodisias was completed in 27 BC and later modified by the Romans for gladiatorial combat.

The stadium is one of the best preserved from the classical era and has a unique elliptical shape. It was specially designed for athletic contests, and Aphrodisias was granted the honor of hosting games in Roman times, modeled on the Pythian games held in Greece. After the theater was damaged in the 7th century earthquake, the eastern end of the stadium began to be used for games, circuses and wild beast shows.

The north agora is a large public square (202 X 72 m), originally enclosed by stoas (porches) on all sides. Parts of the south and east stoas have remained standing since antiquity, and the north stoa was partially uncovered in excavations in the 1960s. Archaeologists believe this was the original center of Hellenistic Aphrodisias.

The large Baths of Hadrian, built across the west end of the South Agora, were massively constructed from large tufa-like blocks faced with marble veneer, and are composed of five great barrel-vaulted chambers, with an imposing colonnaded court in front. The baths, the forecourt, and the west stoa of the South Agora (which led into the complex) were richly decorated with sculpture of important persons.The Aphrodisias Museum (on site) displays some of the citys famous marble sculptures. It also includes the cult statue of Aphrodite that stood in the temple, which is unique and interesting.

Aphrodisias Tour Departure Point:Tour departs from centrally located Pamukkale / Denizli hotels
Port / Airport / Bus Terminal Pickup:For passengers arriving / departing Kusadasi / Selcuk by cruise ship / plane / bus, a pick up is available. If you wish to be picked up, you must advise the line, name, and departure time, at time of booking.
Please allow 30 minutes from arrival time to meet the tour.
Please note, you may be picked up from the points and dropped off at a city hotel or vice versa.

Inclusions:

Lunch
Entrance fees
Professional Guide
Hotel pickup and drop off
Transport by air-conditioned coach

Exclusions:

Personal expense
Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional Info:

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children 16 years and under must be accompanied by an adult