Explore the Most Beautiful Places Around Flora Garden Ephesus

KUŞADASI

In the 1960s the city realised its potential for tourism and developed rapidly. Especially during recent years, lots of hotels, motels, camps, holiday villages, resorts and villas were built in the city and surrounding suburbs. A marina was built and the port-premises were enlarged.

Today, Kusadasi is one of the most important tourism centers of Turkey. When we consider the reasons, we must appreciate its climate, as well as the rich historical environment and its unique beaches. Kusadasi is primarily a beach center with its sandy shores. The total length of the beaches is over 20 kms. In addition to the large beaches, Kusadasi also has rocky bays which provide superb scuba-diving opportunities for tourists who like to explore the depths.

GUZELCAMLI

Guzelcamli is located within Aydin county borders and 18 kms from Kusadasi city centre, to the south, it has mutual border with the Dilek Peninsula National Park. The current population is up to 10 thousand, however during the touristic season it can reach up to 50 thousand. Guzelcamli offers various touristic opportunities and has different touristic potential than many other places in Turkey. One can spend time by surfing, canoeing, fishing and many more activities on the appr. 30 kms long coast. Samsun Mountains and the National Park offer vast majority of activities for tourists such as hiking, bicycle tours, horse riding, trekking, paragliding and etc.

THE DILEK PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK

Dilek Peninsula National Park, known locally as Milli Park, is located Located 23km south of Kusadasi, in a town called Guzelcamli. It covers an area of 28.000 Hectares. The average height of the park ‘s 600-650 meters and the highest point of it can reach up to 1237 meters. It is 8 kms from Davutlar and starts at Guzelcamli and lays on Dilek Peninsula. It has a width of 6 kms and is 20 kms in length.

Whether you like hiking in the mountain trails or lying on a beach relaxing, the national park is a little piece of paradise. There are many beaches to choose from, the Kalamaki beaches count of several bays the most important ones being – Icmeler, Kavakli and Karapinar. Apart from lying on the beach with a good book, a long trek around the beautiful mountains of the national park is perfect if you want to get out of the busy area and be at one with nature.

There are lots of beautiful types of flowers, species of birds and wild animals around. The most common being the wild pig, so do not be bewildered when you see a wild pig family wandering around the National Park

THE CAVE OF ZEUS

The Cave of Zeus, located in Guzelcamli district, is visited by hundreds of people every day. It is surrounded by trees, plants and flowers and hidden from view which gives it a secret and mystical feel. At the entrance is a wish tree that people tie pieces of material and ribbons to in the belief that their wishes will be granted.

Inside there is sparkling clear deep (10-15 meters) water that forms a unique pool in which you can swim and tastes like carbonated mineral water as spring water from the mountains mixes with the salty sea water. Ironically it is freezing cold in the summer and warm in the winter and is popular with the local teenagers and tourists.

There is a story about the cave of Zeus, according to legend, when Zeus provoked and annoyed his brother Poseidon; he used to hide in this cave to rest. While Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, made the seas rise, Zeus hid from his bad temper and wrath in the calm waters of this cave” Today, when the sea is not very convenient to swim in due to the waves, the people come here to swim and recall the legend.

THE ANTIQUE CITY EPHESUS

Ephesus, known as one of the most fascinating archeological sites in the world, was a large port and trading center at the crossroads of important trade routes, such as the King road and the Silk road. As the most visited antique site of Turkey, Ephesus is the gate to Turkey’s presentation to the world. Every year millions of visitors come to Ephesus for its marvelous and mystical atmosphere.

Huge granite columns are witnesses of the city’s former magnificence and many worth-seeing sites surround it: the Artemision, one the Seven Wonders, Saint-John’s church, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, the Mosque of Isabey and the archeological museum of Selcuk. Originally Ephesus was a harbour city but due to the Menderes alluviums over the centuries, the site is now removed from the sea by about 5-6 kms.

VIRGIN MARY

Located on the top of the “Bulbul” mountain 9 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of the Virgin Mary enjoys a marvelous atmosphere hidden between trees. It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come to the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded places. The house is a typical Roman architectural example, made entirely of stones.

PRIENE

The city of Priene was laid out on Mount Mycale (Samsun) and contained many famous examples of Hellenistic art and architecture. The original location of the city has never been found but it was probably a peninsula with two harbors. Today the ruins of Priene are located next to the modern village of Gullubahce and 20 kms from the town of Soke.

Visitors to Priene can view the Temple of Athena, the ancient theatre and the well preserved council chamber (Bouleuterion). Also found at the site are the remains of Roman baths and gymnasiums, the ruins of an ancient Synagogue and the ‘House of Alexander the Great’ – where it is reported that the young conqueror stayed during his siege of Miletus in 334 BC.

MILETUS

Miletus (Milet), ancient Greek city of western Anatolia, some 20 miles (30 km) south of the present city of Söke, Turkey. It lies near the mouth of the Büyükmenderes (Menderes) River. The Delphinion, a shrine dedicated to Apollo Delphinios (Apollo of the Dolphins), patron of sailors, ships and ports and situated in the harbour area, was one of the most important religious buildings in the town. One of the most interesting sites here is the early 15th century Ilyas Bey Camii, this mosque was entirely built in marble stolen from the ancient city.