Sitting high on a hill, you'll need to walk or take the cable car to Pergamon, but that's just the start of your adventure! Shed new light on classical history as you uncover one of the ancient cultural, artistic, and scientific centers of the Hellenistic world.
Before it was bequeathed to the Romans in 133 BC, Pergamon's sprawling hilltop splendor made it one of the greatest cities in the Greek world at that time. High on a rocky hill, the walk can be arduous still, but luckily there's a modern cable car - that's something the ancient Greeks and Romans didn't have.
Either way the views are breathtaking! Wander the ancient sites and learn how the buildings were enhanced by the Romans under Augustus, Trajan, Hadrian, and Caracalla. The library here was the second-biggest in the Roman world after Alexandria, and it's also the place where parchment is said to have been invented.
You'll see significant sites like the local Acropolis, the ruins of the royal palace, the original location of the Altar of Zeus, the temple of Athena, and an archaeological museum.
If all that exploring makes you hungry, you can also fill up on a traditional Turkish lunch including soup, salads, chicken, or meatballs. A veggie option is also available if you choose!
