| The Trojan Wars are the back-drop for the earliest written poems to have survived - Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey - and the quest to find traces in the archaeological record of such a conflict, and the site of the city itself, has gone on for nearly 150 years.
Frank Calvert, Heinrich Schliemann and others identified the settlement mound at Hisarlik as Troy, but it has emerged since that there were actually nine cities (one on top of the other) with at least 49 occupation levels, and a history far more complex and full of interest than just the Trojan Wars.
Troy represented a meeting point between the worlds of the Hittites and the Greeks; Alexander the Great came here to pay homage to the ancient heroes, and Constantine the Great started to build his capital here before deciding on Byzantium (Istanbul) instead - not to mention the colourful stories associated with Schliemann’s excavations and exciting recent discoveries at the site.
Further south along the Aegean Coast of Turkey are some of the best-preserved and dramatically situated of any Classical cities - Greek, Hellenistic and Roman. Ephesus, Pergamon and Miletus were all once rich and powerful; many visitors still come to them, but there are fewer out of season.
Priene and Assos are two of the most atmospheric and evocative sites anywhere, and two of the grandest temples of the ancient world are also here: the Artemesion at Ephesus and the Didymaion at Didyma. The former was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the latter did not enter these hallowed ranks, probably only because it was never finished.
We have included this impressive selection of sites in our itinerary, allowing time for guided visits and further exploration as you choose. A free day in Ayvalik, an attractive harbour town and holiday destination, affords the opportunity to unwind and relax, or visit other sites in the region - there are many options.
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