You will be picked up at the pier in Kusadasi in a luxurious, climate-controlled van for the short ride south along the Turkish Riviera. First you will visit Priene with its fine examples of Hellenic art and architecture. King Mausoleum laid out the city in rectangular blocks, one of the first examples of urban planning ever recorded. Your guide will bring the city to life as he explains the significance of the many structures you will see. You'll tour the Theater of Priene, one of the most beautiful theaters of the Hellenic World. You'll walk through the Temple of Athena, the Gymnasium, Byzantine church and the agora.
We then depart for Miletus settled by the Ionians in the 11thC BC. This ancient city was once one of the biggest cities in Anatolia. Miletus is famous for its genius philosophers and architects. On arrival at the ruins, the magnificent theater appears first. This theater once held 24,000 spectators. Next are the well preserved Faustian baths built for the wife of Marcus Aurelius. These exceptional ruins include the Temple of Serapis, the agora, a ceremonial road, Senate Building and the Temple of Asklepios.
After leaving Miletus, well stop for lunch at a local restaurant. We'll continue on to Didyma, originally a cult center for the city of Miletus. In ancient times, it was connected to its mother city by a sacred road, parts of which can be seen today. It was home to a large temple dedicated to Apollo, called the Didymaion. This temple was second only to Delphi in Greece in importance. You'll have ample time to stroll through these ruins which include the famous Medusa head and a colonnade of the temple, erected in the 3rd C BC.
You will then be transported back to Kusadasi in time for some shopping before you sail.