Izmir is the 3rd largest City in Turkey and the 2nd largest sea port. Following the Turkish revolutionary war much of the city needed to be rebuilt; as a result the city today is an interesting mixture of modern High rise buildings with wide tree lined boulevards.
Izmir enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers, which is probably why the street life is so lively. A walk on the Kordon reveals an endless line of restaurants, Bistros, Bars, Coffee shops and Tea Houses all spilling onto the street.
A visit to Izmir can not be complete without spending a few hours wandering round the Market Area of Kemer Alti. This is a bustling Bazaar where literally anything can be purchased.
The region has been inhabited since 3000 AD so the area is rich in historical sites, these can be found within the city (Kadifekale - Bayrakli) but also within a short drive you can find Ephesus, Pregamum, Sardes, Teos and many more places to explore.
The city is a port of call for major cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean.
Itinerary
When you arrive in the port of Izmir, your private guide will be waiting to lead you to your own luxury vehicle, in which you can relax as your private shore excursion to Pergamum. Bergama is home to two of the country's most celebrated archaeological sites: the Acropolis and the Asklepion of ancient Pergamum, both listed among the top 100 historical sites on the Mediterranean. Most of the extraordinary buildings and monuments in Bergama date to the time of Eumenes II (197-159 BC), including the famed library, the terrace of the spectacularly sited hillside theater, the main palace, the Altar of Zeus and the propylaeum of the Temple of Athena. In the early Christian era, Pergamum's church was a major center of Christianity and was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2:12-17). The ancient city is composed of three main parts: the Acropolis, whose main function was social and cultural as much as it was sacred; the Lower City, or realm of the lower classes; and the Asklepion, one of the earliest medical centers on record.
Once you finish the visit of the sites, as a part of the tour to see the Turkish fine-arts you will also visit a local gallery which produces and sells products that are distinctively Turkish – for example, handmade carpets, ceramics or silver. You will see the process of the production from the raw materials to the final product and you will have a chance to give a try of this process.
After all the visits, you will turn back to port of Izmir.
This is a private tour and includes a driver and a separate English-speaking guide who will accompany you into all attractions to provide commentary.
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