Silversea Luxury Cruises To DIKILI (Izmir)

This tour has been organized for guests who find exploring the acropolis of ancient Pergamum too difficult. Touring the Asclepion is on even ground.

Depart the pier via coach for the approximate thirty minute drive to the modern town of Bergama located at the foot of the Pergamum acropolis. Proceed with a guided walk of the Asclepion.

The Asclepion

Below the acropolis, spread out on level ground, are the ruins of antiquity's first complete health spa and healing center. A 30-minute walking tour of the site includes the Sacred Way, Sacred Well and the Serpent Altar, the design of which was the symbol of Asclepius (god of medicine). The Asclepion's fame was mainly due to Galen, one of the greatest physicians of ancient times. Under his influence, the medical school at Pergamum became renowned, and his work presented the basis for all Western medicine well into the 1500s.

Leaving the site, you will head to the center of Bergama.

Archaeological Museum

Located on the town's main street, the museum houses a large collection of material from the Stone Age to Byzantine times as well as an ethnographic department. Following a brief visit, take a short drive through Bergama's busy streets to the Red Courtyard.

Red Courtyard

The massive brick-built ruins once belonged to the Temple of Serapis, originally built by Emperor Hadrian and converted in Byzantine times into a church dedicated to the apostle John. The building, also known as Red Basilica, takes its name from the red brick walls. After the destruction by the Arabs in the early 8th century, a smaller church was built within the ruins.

After your visit there is some free time to explore the Bergama town center before starting the return drive to Dikili.

Discover the archaeological ruins from the ancient Roman city of Pergamon and the ancient health center, The Asclepion on this half-day tour.

Pergamum

Depart from Dikili port to Pergamum, passing through the fertile plains watered by the Selinus River, a site settled by one civilization after another since ancient Timamum was ruled by Lydians and by Persians before falling to Alexander the Great in 334 BC. When Alexander died, control of the city passed to one of his generals, Lysimahchus, who controlled a great part of the Aegean region. After Lysimachus' death a cascade of kings and emperors ruled the city and the kingdom of which it was the center, from Philatairos to Attalus to Eumenes, to Atallus II, who finally declared that Pergamum would become a part of the Roman Empire after his death.

You will tour the remains of the city's most famous landmark, a library that contained 200,000 volumes and put Pergamum on a par with Alexandria as a cultural center of the Roman Empire.

Next, a panoramic cable car ride will bring you to the acropolis located high upon the hilltop. As you walk around the acropolis and take in the spectacular view, you will get the impression that the city was built to be an inaccessible fortress. And it was. Continue on, admiring the celebrated library, a steep and impressively dignified theater, temples of Trajan and Dionysus, the monumental altar of Zeus, the sanctuary of Demeter, a gymnasium on three terraces, and the Agora.

Asclepion

Your next stop will be the Asclepion, named after the god of health, which is reached via a sacred road lined with still more monuments and architectural fragments from antiquity. The Asclepion added to the city's reputation as a center of learning and science, and contained a rehabilitation center, an Ionic portico, sacred spring, latrines, and a "psychotherapy tunnel".

At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach for the 45-minute drive back to the pier.

Turkish cuisine is often regarded as one of the greatest in the world and the focus during this tour will be on the Northern Aegean cuisine, especially of the area of Ayvalik and Cunda Island.

Ayvalik Town Walk and Taste

Travel approx.. 75 minutes through typical Turkish countryside full of pine trees to reach Ayvalik town, which used to be an important trade center during the Ottoman times. The city then was almost completely inhabited by Greeks, who were exchanged with Turks from Crete when a population swap was mandated between governments of Turkey and Greece in 1923. Ayvalik's ancient name was Kydonia, while the name used today means 'the place of quince', although the city is rather known for its olive trees. Olives have been harvested in Ayvalik for ages and the olive oil production has been important to both the former Greek residents and the present Cretan 'immigrants' (who have been living in Ayvalik for at least three generations).

This naturally reflects heavily on the Cuisine of the area, making it a mixture of Turkish and Greek cultures prepared using an abundance of herbs and vegetables cooked in olive oil. On this excursion, you will get a chance to taste this delicious fusion of cultures during the approximately 1 hour long walk along the stone houses and narrow streets of Ayvalik, while sampling delicious products, such as olive oil, local goat cheese and mastic cookies.

Cunda Island Walking Tour

A brief 15 minute transfer will take you to the Island of Cunda, one of the nicest small islands on the Aegean Coast connected to the mainland through a small bridge.

Upon arrival, stop at Sevim and Necdet Kent Library, a former church and windmill was renovated to become a library, souvenir shop and café, with a beautiful view of the island and the sea. The library houses the political book collection belonging to Necdet Kent, a diplomat who put his life at risk to save the Turkish Jews during WWII.

Afterwards visit the island's main historical landmark, a 19th century church restored by the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Culture Foundation to serve as a museum. Its beautiful interior has frescoes depicting the life of Jesus Christ and intricated marble designs.

Aegean Lunch

Following your approximately 30 minutes long exploration of Cunda on foot, arrive at Ayna Restaurant, which means mirror in Turkish for your Aegean lunch experience. Ayna Restaurant is a small, family-run place famous for its North Aegean home-style food. The restaurant is set in one of the famous old stone building of the island, tastefully designed with spacey interior and enormous mirrors. The food is kept simple and homely while served elegantly according to their motto that is "Simple is the best".

The Hosts

Your hosts will be Ms. Nihal Sayın and/or Ms. Ezgi Güven, mother and daughter who live on the island and who are the chefs and owners of one of the best local Aegean cuisine restaurant on the island.

The pillar of their cuisine is olive oil, their daily menu is prepared with seasonal and local products including seasonal wild greens and foraged herbs. Because they live and work on a small island with limited resources, they source everything locally, in fact their main seafood supplier is one of their neighbors and the cheese comes from a local dairy farm, using milk from their own animals, fed by their own crops.

During the simple but delicious Aegean Cuisine home-style lunch, your hosts will give you an insight into the Aegean Cuisine, their interpretation of it and their vision for the future

Time at Leisure

After lunch enjoy some time at leisure to wonder around the town independently, try a Turkish coffee and browse for souvenir.

Explore Dikili at your leisure during your full-day (8 Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Dikili at your leisure during your half-day (4 Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.