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UNESCO World Heritage Site and one For thousands of years, the city was one of
of the great archaeological finds in the the most important centers of culture, trade,
A world, Ephesus should be on every se- and religion in the Mediterranean region.
rious traveler’s bucket list. It’s comparable to Greek colonists founded Ephesus in the 10th
other wonders of the ancient world we have century BC on a hill near the coast of the
visited, including Rome’s Colosseum, Petra in Aegean Sea but later moved next to the
Jordan, Chichen Itza in Mexico,, Taj Mahal in Cayster River. It had many masters - tyrants,
India, and The Great Wall of China. This visit kings, and emperors - including the Greeks,
to Ephesus was our third, and we are always Persians, Macedonians, Romans, and Byzan-
intrigued and delighted by something new. tines.
Ephesus is one of the largest Roman archae- It was an epicenter of learning, home to the
ological sites in the eastern Mediterranean. majestic Library of Celsus, one of the largest
The visible ruins are only a glimpse of the and most impressive collections of knowledge
city’s greatness. As you make your way in the ancient world. It played a significant
through the excavations, you are strolling the role in the spread of Christianity. Saint Paul
same paths walked by Marc Antony and preached and wrote letters to the Ephesians
Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, and even during his stay. There are many who believe
Saint Paul and Saint John the Evangelist. Saint John and the Virgin Mary also lived and
Along the way expect to be delighted by the died near Ephesus. However, there are schol-
many felines that make their home here, all ars who dispute this.
well looked after by staff and guides.
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