Best of Pergamum: A Small Group Tour
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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, then continue to ancient Pergamum, once ranked among the great cities of Asia and was first settled by the Aeolic Greeks in the 8th century BC and was also one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the Book of Revelation. Leaving your motor coach, 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 and very few traces remain. Next you will visit the Library of Pergamum, second only to the magnificent library in 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 and both emperors worshiped there. The Zeus Altar-arguably the finest altar ever built-dates back to 180 BC, see it’s ruins and note thatmost of the structure and its friezes are now housed at the Pergamum Museum in Berlin.
We have been granted special permission for Seabourn guests on this tour to head off the beaten path and visit an ancient structure known as "Z Structure" a land protrusion between the terrace of the Demeter Sanctuary and the Temple of Hera. The structure covered an area of 1,500 square meters, divided into several tiers due to the bumpy slope. The largest part of the building belongs to the 2nd century BC when it was built as a large peristyle house. Fortunately, a roof was added to the building in 2004 and there is an excellent exhibit of floor mosaics. Due to the nature of the acropolis, the building is located on the slope.
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. Next, visit the impressive Bergama Museum. housing more than 10,000 archaeological and ethnographic works. A delicious meal will be served at a local restaurant before your return to port.
Please note: Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Tour is not suitable for wheelchairs. The visit to the Acropolis of Pergamon requires a 15-minutes journey via Cable Car. The tour is not recommended to guests afraid of heights. To visit the "Z Structure", guests need to negotiate an approximate 2,000 feet walk with inclines.