Kuşadası
In the 1960s the city realised its potential for tourism and developed rapidly. Especially during recent years, lots of hotels, motels, camps, holiday villages, resorts and villa were built in the city and surrounding suburbs. A marina was built and the port-premises were enlarged.
Today, Kusadasi is one of the most important tourism centers of Turkey. When we consider the reasons, we must appreciate its climate, as well as the rich historical environment and its unique beaches. Kusadasi is primarily a beach center with its sandy shores. The total length of the beaches is over 20 kms. In addition to the large beaches, Kusadasi also has rocky bays which provide superb scuba-diving opportunities for tourists who like to explore the depths.
Virgin Mary House
Ephesus
Ephesus, known as one of the most fascinating archeological sites in the world, was a large port and trading center at the crossroads of important trade routes, such as the King road and the Silk road. As the most visited antique site of Turkey, Ephesus is the gate to Turkey's presentation to the world. Every year millions of visitors come to Ephesus for its marvelous and mystical atmosphere. Huge granite columns are witnesses of the city's former magnificence and many worth-seeing sites surround it: the Artemision, one the Seven Wonders, Saint-John's church, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, the Mosque of Isabey and the archeological museum of Selcuk. Originally Ephesus was a harbour city but due to the Menderes alluviums over the centuries, the site is now removed from the sea by about 5-6 kms.
Located on the top of the "Bulbul" mountain 9 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of the Virgin Mary enjoys a marvelous atmosphere hidden between trees. It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come to the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded places. The house is a typical Roman architectural example, made entirely of stones.