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A motorcoach tour from the port of Kusadasi to the House of the Virgin Mary includes scenic views of the Byzantine fortress in Selcuk and the Temple of Artemis. A long and winding road affords wonderful views of the valley en route to the Shrine of St. Mary. The diminutive house, beautifully situated in the Solmissos Mountains, is considered by the Vatican to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. Its idyllic garden contains a spring thought to have curative properties, which can be sampled by all.

Your tour continues to ancient Ephesus, where you'll pass through the arched Magnesian Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk to the ruins of the Roman provincial capital. Your knowledgeable guide will highlight such sights as the beautifully preserved Temple of Hadrian, the magnificent Trajan Fountain, the Odeon Theater, once used for both political and entertainment purposes, and the beautiful Celsus Library with its imposing façade and two story Corinthian-style columns. The dramatic Great Theater is one of the few structures still used today. It seats twenty-five thousand and was once an arena for gladiator games.

Look up at the hill across from Hadrian's Temple, and you will see the newly excavated area known as the Terrace Houses. Also referred to as "the houses of the rich," these structures give us important information about family life during the Roman period. Remarkably, these homes had such modern conveniences as hot and cold running water and intricate central heating systems. Beautiful tiled mosaics and ornate frescos have been consolidated for easy viewing and two buildings are open as museums.

Although in ruins, the Basilica of St. John is still a majestic sight to behold. Among the remains, large columns, frescos and mosaics still stand, paying homage to the monumental basilica built during Emperor Justinian's reign. The structure was created in the shape of a cross and covered with six individual domes, the central one of which is thought to lie directly above the burial site of St. John.

Then drive to a five star hotel where you will enjoy a delicious traditional lunch. You'll dine on delicious local foods and savor the wonderful Turkish desserts. A local folkloric dance group offers entertainment during your meal. After lunch, return to Kusadasi and explore this lovely port town, taking in a Turkish carpet-weaving demonstration and browsing the colorful markets and bazaars for souvenirs from this incredible day.