General

Frequently touted as a day-trip from Ayvalik, BERGAMA is the site of the Hellenistic – and later Roman – city of Pergamon, ruled for several centuries by a powerful local dynasty. Excavations were completed here in 1886, but unfortunately much of what was found has since been carted off to Germany.

However, the acropolis of Eumenes II remains a major attraction, and there are a host of lesser sights and an old quarter of chaotic charm to detain you for a day or so.

The old town lies at the foot of the acropolis, about ten minutes’ walk from the bus station. Its foremost attraction is the Kizil Avlu or “Red Basilica”, a huge edifice on the river not far from the acropolis, originally built as a temple to the Egyptian god Osiris and converted to a basilica by the early Christians, when it was one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the book of Revelation – though sadly it’s now a crumbling ruin with a mosque in one of its towers.

The area around the basilica is a jumble of ramshackle buildings, carpet and antique shops, mosques and maze-like streets. South of here along the main street is the Archaeological Museum, which has a large collection of locally unearthed booty, including a statue of Hadrian from the Asclepion, and various busts of figures like Zeus and Socrates.

There’s also a model of the Zeus altar, complete with the Berlin-resident reliefs.

08:30 Departure from Kusadasi
10:30 Break on the way (20 minutes)
12:00 Entrance to Ruins of Pergamon, Akropolis
13:20 Depart for Lunch
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch
14:45 – 16:15 Visit of Asklepion
16:15 Depart to Kusadasi
18:00 Break on the way
19:30 – 20:00 Delivery to the hotels