Pergamum Acropolis, Red Basilica, and Asclepion
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Port
Dikili (Pergamon), Turkey
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Activity Level
Strenuous Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$200
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
A visit to the ancient healing center of Asclepion, built to honor the God of medicine-Asclepio. Asclepion.
Continue to ancient Pergamum, once ranked among the great cities of Asia and first settled by the Aeolic Greeks in the 8th century. It was also one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the Book of Revelation-he called it the Throne of the Devil. Leaving your motor coach, board a Cable Car for the 15-minute journey to the Acropolis of Pergamum, which looms 900 feet above the town. It was once surrounded by three walls but unfortunately there are very few traces of the walls today. Next you will visit the Library of Pergamum, built by Eumenes II-second only to the magnificent library in Alexandria, Egypt. Because of the great library, many scholars and teachers lived in this cultural city-in fact, parchment paper was invented here. Continue to the Temple of Trajan, built by Hadrian. The Zeus Altar-arguably the finest altar ever built-dates back to 180 BC where today only the ruins remain. Most of the structure and its freezes are now housed at the Pergamum Museum in Berlin.
Undoubtedly Pergamum's best-known landmark is the Kizil Avlu (Red Basilica) a temple made of red brick and dedicated to the Gods of Egypt. The temple lies in what is now the modern town of Bergama. The two pools in the temple indicate that ritual cleansing rites were performed here. Return to the ship after your tour.
Please note: Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Tour is not suitable for wheelchairs. The tour may operate in reverse order.
The visit to the Acropolis of Pergamon requires a 15-minutes journey via Cable Car. The tour is not recommended to guests nervous of heights.