Aphrodite of Aphrodisias

This Istanbul day trip provides an excellent opportunity to see another of Turkey’s unique landscapes, Pamukkale, as well as visit the ruins of the ancient city of Aphrodisias, famous for its Temple of Aphrodite and its School of Sculpture during its Roman period.

Pamukkale’s limestone terraces have been formed by layers of calcium carbonate deposits as warm mineral water cascaded down the slopes of a ridge, forming petrified pools that create the illusion of ‘cotton castles’.  These formations are unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else in Turkey.   Many of the terraces are filled with mineral water from the hot springs, forming pools that glisten in the sun.

Aphrodisias has been under excavation off and on since 1892.  However, it was only in 1959 that excavation began in earnest after Professor Kenan T. Erim came upon some exposed ruins on a visit to a nearby village.  Excavation continues under the auspices of New York University.  Aphrodisias was a center for the worship of Aphrodite, Mother Goddess of Fertility.  Her ancestor is Cybele, Earth Mother to the Phrygians.   On your walk among the ruins, you will see one of the best-preserved theaters of the ancient world, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, or monumental gateway, the Sebasteion, a sanctuary devoted to the worship of the Roman Emperor Augustus as well as the goddess Aphrodite, the Bouleuterion, where the city council met, and the Stadium, the largest and best-preserved stadium of antiquity.

Your day will also include a visit to Karahayit, a small village also known for its hot springs.

Aphrodite of Aphrodisias

Route: Tetrapylon, Temple of Aphrodite, Red Spring Waters, Sebasteion, Bouleuterion
Tour Type: Small Group Tour
Duration: Full day

INCLUDED

• Inbound and outbound airport transfers
• English speaking tour guide
• All transportation by A/C No Smoking vehicles
• English speaking professional tour guide
• Entrance fees for sites and museums
• Lunch