Best of Pergamum: A Small-Group Experience
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Port
Dikili (Pergamon), Turkey
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Activity Level
Strenuous Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$260
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Visit the ancient healing center of Asclepion, built to honor the God of medicine -- Asclepio.
Continue to ancient Pergamum, once ranked among the great cities of Asia and one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the Book of Revelation.
Leaving your motorcoach, board a cable car for the 15-minute journey to the Acropolis of Pergamum, looming 900 feet above the town. It was once surrounded by three walls, but very few traces remain.
Next you will visit the Library of Pergamum, second only to the magnificent ancient Library of Alexandria, Egypt. Many scholars and teachers lived in this cultural city. In fact, parchment paper was invented here.
Continue to the Temple of Trajan, built by Hadrian. The Zeus Altar -- perhaps the finest altar ever built -- dates back to 180 BC. See its ruins and note that most of the structure and its friezes are now housed at the Pergamum Museum in Berlin.
Special permission has been granted for Seabourn guests to head off the beaten track and visit an ancient structure known as Structure Z. Dating back to the 2nd century BC and with a Hellenistic design, the structure sits between the terrace of the Demeter Sanctuary and the Temple of Hera, divided into several tiers over a bumpy slope. A roof was added in 2004 to protect its mosaic floor.
Next stop is Pergamum's best-known landmark, the Red Basilica -- a temple made of red brick and dedicated to the Gods of Egypt. The two pools in the temple indicate that ritual cleansing rites were performed here.
The impressive Bergama Museum houses more than 10,000 archaeological and ethnographic works. A delicious meal is served at a local restaurant before your return to port.
Please note: Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable/reef-safe sunscreen. Bring bottled water. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. The cable car is not recommended for guests with a fear of heights. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, cobblestones, inclines, gravel, grass, and many steps. Structure Z is accessed via a walk of approximately 660 yards with steep inclines and steps. Please realistically assess your physical fitness and ability prior to booking.