We have seen reviews that are up and down, but we were really affected by our visit. This is believed to be / could be the final house of the Virgin Mary. The house was destroyed except for the bottom two rows of bricks. It has been reconstructed and is now a shrine. There are 4 springs with "holy water" and a prayer wall. We found it very impactful to possibly be walking where the Virgin Mary and St John the Apostle walked. read more

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Mary shrine. This is pit stop for our trip. This a last home place of Mary. It is a holy place that for worship due to last Mary Home. The place is very small. Our tour guide warn us about it. Sometimes take two hours to visit this small house. We were visited during the lunch time which is the less tour group here. It takes us 30 minutes. read more

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This house was described as the final resting place of Mary, the mother of Jesus by Roman Catholic nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich, as being located near Esphesus. While it was never pronounced as authentic by the Catholic Church, this site has become a place of pilgrimage, attracting Christians and Muslims over the years. As part of our tour, we were taken to Mary's House and given time to explore it. It's a small structure and there was a small gift shop selling candles for people to light, should they choose. While my husband is Christian, he was skeptical about this house and its authenticity but he was open to discussing it with our group. read more

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House of the Virgin Mary: it's MTV cribs before heaven. This is allegedly where Mary spent her final days, because when you've immaculately conceived and survived centuries of religious fan fiction, you deserve a peaceful cottage in the Turkish countryside. You hike up, light a candle (because nothing says spiritual reflection like a wax stick), and think good thoughts while dodging tour groups elbowing for holy water. It's quiet, solemn, and suspiciously well-preserved for a first-century home. Still, vibes are high, incense is burning, and you can't help but think Nice digs, Mary. God forgive me for I have sinned. read more

Meryem Ana Evi - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - İzmir, 35

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Meryem Ana Evi, also recognized as the House of the virgin Mary by the faithful, is 7 kilometers from the ancient Roman port city of Ephesus. Some accounts suggest that after the death of Jesus, Paul brought Mary to this small stone house where she lived 11 years before her death around 41 AD. It needs to be noted that there is no evidence that Mary lived or died here. Others suggest that Mary was buried in the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem at the foot of the Mount of Olives This is a pilgrimage site for Christian, Muslim and Hebrews as the Virgin Mary is recognized as a Biblical figure in all three religions. There was a long line to enter the house the day I visited. It cost me 10.5 Euros. There are many transportation options from Ephesus to this site. . read more

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This was the first stop on our Biblical Tour to the last known residence of Mary, the mother of Jesus. There's shops, restaurants, and snacks available. There's also a small chapel and we got to participate in a small private mass as part of our tour. You aren't allowed to take photos inside the house, only outside. The tour provided us with small terra cotta containers to collect some of the natural spring water they still have available and running today. There's also an ancient cistern on the grounds. There is a strong Catholic presence on the grounds and it unfortunately feels very commercialized. It was cool to see the house and hear the history. Knowing in the early days of Christianity, believers had to kind of keep themselves hidden and lay low for fear of persecution, made it believable Mary would want to stay in a house as secluded as this one. Is it THE house? I don't know. But it was cool to explore nonetheless. read more

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I visited Meryem Ana Evi (House of the Virgin Mary) with my tour group on a Wednesday afternoon, and there was no wait to enter. Supposedly, in the morning, the wait was crazy because many cruise ship tours will take visitors there first thing in the morning. The entire visit was fairly quick. After passing a few gift shops and a restaurant, you walk up to the small stone house said to be where the Virgin Mary spent her final years. You're welcome to take photos outside, but photography is not allowed inside. The interior is pretty small, and it took me less than five minutes to walk through. Outside the house, there's a fountain with three faucets, each representing something different: love, money, and health. The water is supposedly clean. I did see a woman chugging water from the money faucet. You can bring your own water bottle to fill up on the water. The last stop is the wishing wall, covered with notes and wishes tied on by visitors from around the world. It's a peaceful and quiet place. I'm not sure I'd wait in a very long line to enter in the future given how short my visit was. However, I can see it being a significant experience for people. Apparently tickets are around 500 lira at the time of this review. read more

We visited Meryem Ana Evi on a Sunday. Mass was being celebrated outdoor when we arrived, which set the tone for visiting the House of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. Tradition has it the Mary spent her final earthly days in this house, which has been restored. The structure was smaller than I expected, and it's interior is a chapel and shrine. Overall, however, this was an emotional experience. There is a small restaurant on the grounds, as well as respectable public rest rooms. read more

Meryem Ana Evi - Entry signage - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - İzmir, 35

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Supposedly , this was where the last place Mary lived. It is a glorious are, basically set in a forest. A small building that became a monastery. There is a long line to enter this small building where photographs aren't allowed. read more

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The House of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic shrine located near Ephesus. It is reported to be where Mary lived the last days of her life. The house was discovered in the 19th century based on the visions of a Roman Catholic nun and visionary, Anne Catherine Emmerich. Author Clemens Brentano visited Ann Catherine and published a book based on her visions. This created a roadmap that led to this house by two independent source. On the way to the shrine, there is a baptismal pool. The shrine has a modest sanctuary with a large statue of the Virgin Mary. The adjacent room is where Mary reportedly slept. No photography is allowed inside. You can make a donation to get a candle or leave a paper for a blessing at the Wishing Wall. The gift shop supports the church. read more

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Over prices and underwhelming. Didn't seem authenticate and worth it. Doubt it was really her hous. read more

Meryem Ana Evi - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - İzmir, 35

Gayle and I were here as part of our Norwegian Jade Cruise Excursion that started earlier that morning at the Port of Izmir. The Tour included the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus. Our most excellent tour guide took us up the hill to the House of the Virgin Mary first and relatively early. This made our visit a little less crowded, cool, quiet, and reflective. Clean restrooms are available and the Men's Room on the left heading back to the parking lot has perhaps the most scenic urinal spot ever. I'm not Catholic and as the story goes, the Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) spent her last years up here until her Assumption. Who knows how much of this was true, but some German Nun did predict it years ago, and Pope John Paul II once paid a visit. So just like the Camino de Santiago, sometimes it's best to go with the flow and cherish the personal journey, rather than any qualms about historical fact. I found the House of the Virgin Mary to be a most pleasant surprise. The lush, green, and cool hilltop gave me a sense of peace and comfort, and the short walk through the House itself confirmed that. You enter the house into a large chapel room where there is an altar shrine with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Alongside is a smaller room believed to have been Mary's bedroom. The rest of the house is not open to the public. No pictures are allowed and the walk through is over in less than a few minutes. There's also a prayer wall, and I added a few pieces of paper myself. I also filled up a bottle with holy water to bring home. Who knows if any miracles will occur, but I'll take all the good karma I can get, from whatever source. read more

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This was probably the most disappointing part of my week in Turkey. The location of this place is gorgeous and sort of worth the long winding drive, but the actual substance of this is not much to look forward to. So it will be extremely crowded (which isn't the reason for the 2 stars, btw) and the entrance fee is pretty pricey. There's a wishing well, a restored structure/shrine, and a location to gather holy water. The authenticity of this location as the actual home of Mary is contested and not declared by any Church, which is rather suspicious. Overall, for the long drive, high price, and very little to look at (in addition to being ushered around by guards), I wouldn't come back. I think it is worth going to if you're in the area, however. I mean this in the most respectful way possible, and only say it to help readers of this review understand what to expect: this shrine is really suited for Catholics, and all others will likely be disappointed. read more

Kind of a short stop, Is it REALLY the house of the virgin mary? No conclusive evidence; but some nun had a dream that it was in the area and they found this place. They knew that John lived there and since they knew that John was the one who looked after Mary and protected her, they hypothesize that she was with him at this location. Theres a baptizing pool in front and the house is really small, you walk thru in just a few minutes, and no pictures, even without flash. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=cz9rM3ZEH4unN-80xFeQ8g#cz9rM3ZEH4unN-80xFeQ8g Oops. Inside is nothing special, the fun starts when you exit, you can light a candle and say a prayer. There is a natural spring that runs under the house the water is considered to be holy water, you can collect it, drink it do whatever you like. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=J7-2aS9AMPp81aE2dRALxA#J7-2aS9AMPp81aE2dRALxA Im not religious but i did drink some of the water and bring some back for friends who are. No miracles yet, but nothing bad happened either so i'll take that! Remember to bring some sort of container if you want to bring some back for yourself or friends. There's also a wall of prayers that you can write a message, prayer, wish whatever and leave it there. (bring your own pen)http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=9sz6TlZMmhapO2_UG9qM4A#3SHXywdWWgexaKA3v839WA read more

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Nine years ago, we visited the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus, Turkey. I had never heard of this site before. The Catholic Church has not officially declared this to be the Virgin Mary's actual home, but the house has been visited by a few of the Popes including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. I remember that the home is quite small. There is a wishing wall where you can write prayers & wishes on pieces of paper, and place them in cracks in the wall. We also filled our water bottle with holy water from one of the fountains. Our stop at the House of Virgin Mary was one of a kind and worthwhile. I can see why many folks see this as a religious pilgrimage site. read more

Meryem Ana Evi - Entrance ticket from 9 years ago. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - İzmir, 35

Visions of German Nun with the stigmata brought searchers to this location. Current chapel (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#RvqOET6bhybYVnB1S4iSAg) was built after Mary's death. You can see the story in these three pictures (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#zQOj-4DPIO1UeinE3OZonA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#Ehv_Ks27BkZ2XtlNxDujaw) There's a spring of holy water (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#Rfs6eGNB1qF1k20LbezRtQ), baptismal pool (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#amyBrsfgA9ON8Ap5OU9XjQ), and a large prayer / wishing wall (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/house-of-the-virgin-mary-izmir?select=eL_JmJtaAX07IQzTaTAB8Q#hoLWZI-_vyoAV_VWcgoJEg), but overall not worth the price of admission, imo. Yeah, because of this review, I'm probably not going to be saved. Oh well. read more

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Here's the story. A German nun had a recurring vision that Mary's house was in the mountains of Turkey, not far from Ephesus. The foundations of a house were found. According our guide, it was, however, built after Mary would have died. All the same, the house was restored. Since Pope John Paul II visited this site, it's been declared her official home, though it's unlikely that she really lived there. Still, many flock to visit the house to at least feel some connection with Christ's mother, and if it brings them comfort then more power to it. Our friendly guide tried to downplay this spot and not get anyone too excited since he doubted its authenticity. You're not allowed to take photos inside, but you can add your prayers to the nearby wishing wall, drink the water of the spring, and light all the candles you like outside. There are several stands selling rosaries, prayer cards, statues and so on, as well as coffee. read more

Meryem Ana Evi - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - İzmir, 35

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Coming into this I didn't know what to expect from this part of our tour in Ephesus, Turkey. Apparently this is the place where the Virgin Mary spent her last remaining years. They take you up a long, winding road at the edge of a cliff to get to the location. About half way up the hill they have a 10 foot tall gold statue of the Virgin Mary. They allow you to step off the bus and take a few pictures before you move on to the Virgin Mary site. When you finally get to the Virgin Mary house you can't take pictures inside since it is still be used for religious purposes. From time to time the Pope will stop here to visit our tour guide told us. After you exit the house they have holy water you can you can put into a liquid container to take home with you. Next to that they have these tissues you can write on and place on a wall to bring good luck...something like that. That party I'm a little hazy on. If you are hungry there is a small place to eat at the entrance and if you want to pick up some holy water or other religious items you can purchase them at the gift shop across from the eatery. read more

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I'm Catholic. I believe in symbolism. This is the House of Mary, where St John is believed to have brought Mary in her last days. But, while we "fish-eaters" as a group (the Roman Catholic Church) have not said yay or nay on the validity of this truly being the House of Mary, I believe it. And that's how I went in on this side trip from Ephesus. Pope Pius deemed it a Holy Place in 1951, and every year on the Assumption of Mary (8/15) they hold a service for her here. To honor the separation of Church and Yelp, let's just leave it at that. In any case ... It was beautiful, peaceful, serene, all that, everything you would imagine it to be. The little stone house is located on top of a mountain a few miles from Ephesus (HINT: If you're one of those car sick kinda folks, get in the front seat! The ride up the mountainside - while very pretty - is not for the faint of tummy!!). It's more of a shrine to Mary now. And, outside the House of Mary is a Wishing Wall, where people have tied their prayers, maybe some are intentions, in hopes of being answered. Also outside the house along the wall is a fountain, which is believed to have some sort of powers related to fertility - People are encouraged to take a small sampling of the water if they choose to do so. Whether you're a believer or not, this little side trip from Ephesus should definitely not be missed. It's a beautiful place. read more

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House of Virgin Mary is beleived to be the final residence of Mary where she has spent last years of her life. It's recognized as a shrine by Vatican and visited by 3 different Popes. The house and church is located up on a hill near Ephesus. There are no public transportation from Selcuk town therefore you should have a car or hire a taxi to get there. It's a peaceful place in the middle of green trees and great air. There is also good taste water spring so you can fill in your bottles or just drink from the taps next to the House. Every Sunday there is a mass for Christians in the courtyard. There are rest rooms, a cafeteria, a souvenir shop on site. The entrance fee for 2015t is 20 TL per person, plus you pay for the parking fee. One of the must-see places if you're in Ephesus area. read more

Meryem Ana Evi - House of Virgin Mary - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - İzmir, 35

We came here on a bus tour in combination with the Ephesus archeological ruins, starting from the port of Kusadasi, Turkey. Frankly, prior to this excursion I'd never heard of Ephesus or even Kusadasi for that matter. Also, I'd never given it a passing thought to visit a house where the Blessed Virgin Mary may have spent her final days. However, this was all on the cruise ship shore excursion itinerary, so here we were. Though it was hot as Hades that day in August, the House of Virgin Mary location near the top of Bulbul mountain had a nice breeze, which was much appreciated after traipsing around Ephesus for hours in the blazing heat. Supposedly (though never confirmed for sure) Mary, mother of Jesus, was brought to this Roman architecture stone house by Saint John and lived here until her Assumption (Don't be lazy guys - our heathen Yelpers must look up Assumption for themselves). This story is given credibility by the fact that Saint John was known to have spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Every year, on August 15th a ceremony commemorates Mary's Assumption. We were there on August 18, so the collateral crowds were still lingering. There were flocks of Catholic pilgrims, and us cruisers. In the 1980's, Pope John-Paul II visited here and declared the Shrine of the Virgin Mary as a pilgrimage place for Christians. You enter the house into a large chapel room where there is an altar shrine with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Alongside is a smaller room believed to have been Mary's bedroom. The rest of the house is not open to the public. From this instance, the building looks more like a church than a house. There is a small gift store area and ancient Christian legend holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary invented the gift store (lol). Outside is a "wishing wall" or prayer where pilgrims attach their personal "wishes" on paper or fabric. A water fountain (the "Water of Mary") is located nearby, believed to have miraculous powers of healing or fertility. Our tour guide gave us each a small clay bottle of this water. read more

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Believer or not the positive energy of this spot is palpable. Set on a tranquil hill top overlooking the ancient ruins of Ephesus is a shrine to the Virgin Mary maintained by Franciscan monks and guarded by Turkish gendarmes. While it is generally accepted that the Apostle John escorted Mary near Ephesus after the crucifixion, there isn't any physical evidence confirming that she lived and died at this specific spot. In fact the location is based upon the visions of a German nun in the 19th Century. So the accuracy of the belief that this was her final resting place like religion itself is a leap of faith. The serenity of the site is undeniable once you get past the the gendarmes with machine guns inspecting vehicles and eyeballing visitors to the site at the parking lot and main entrance. It's a heavily shaded hilltop with minimal technology and minimal hustle and bustle of civilization. There's a souvenir shop and cafe at the main entrance. After that there is a short and tranquil walk to the shrine. Daily mass is performed outside the shrine for those who desire it. The shrine is a simple dome structure with a single room sandwiched between an entry and exit vestibule. Just beyond the shrine is a water well and wishing wall where thousands have written their intentions on fabric and tied off to the wall. You can really feel the positive energy of the believers and well wishers that pass by. Believers and unbelievers alike pass through in quiet reverence and meditation. The site has been, in my few visits, an example of how people of different faiths and backgrounds should behave towards one another. That alone warrants 5 stars. read more

I feel weird rating this so low, but I really didn't like this. Okay, I'm an atheist who can appreciate a religious site, but I doubt even the most open minded atheists could buy into this. To me, it seems like a scam (which is kind of how I see religion in general). But I take issue with this site in particular because there is so much hype and very little evidence. They literally built a house that is 100% not the house Mary stayed in (since only the foundations of where a nun dreamed she MIGHT have lived were found here). So why should I care about this building? I really did try to care but I just couldn't. The reason for two stars instead of one is that the wishing wall is moving; we read a few of the wishes (not sure if that is respectful or not, but it was definitely interesting), and I'll admit I got choked up. Some of the stories were very sad, and it's compelling to see how devoted people are to the idea. Another point for the absolutely beautiful and special atmosphere. It reminded me of a shrine in Japan. Birds chirping, light breeze, green everywhere; it was definitely nice. The view on the way down wasn't too bad either. read more

This is a very common excursion for cruisegoers stopping in Kusadasi, Turkey. I have been here twice and also went to Ephesus on trip. I agree with what someone else said that this historical spot, whether authentic or not, helps people feel closer to Virgin Mary. It might be a tourist trap. It might be a holy site. I am Catholic and have spent a lot time worshipping Virgin Mary. However, I don't really care for this site. It doesn't do much for me. For one, it's quite far from the holy areas of Israel where Jesus spent his life. There is a nice souvenir shop. There isn't that much to see here. It won't take you that long to get through it...maybe 20 mins. read more

Decided to go to Turkey this Christmas+New Year for 2 reasons- and one of them was to celebrate Midnight Mass@VirginMary's Abode! The resident priest was fantastic and connected us with an English lady (who's been living in Kusadasi for 15 years!) who had hired a bus for the mass and she picked us up from our hotel in Selçuk. There were so many Turkish ppl at the mass and the service was conducted in Italian (by the Archbishop of Izmir) and translated to Turkish and English-my 1st time seeing service conducted in different languages at the same time! It was also a beautiful drive up a pretty high hill to get to her house and you can also see a huge baptismal "vessel" at the entrance of the grounds. Recommended. read more

This is very hard to get to. It is literally up a mountain. You need to get here via taxi if you are not in tour group. My friend and I came to Efesos off the train and were immediately approached by a taxi driver who offered to take us there and to the archaelogical site as well as Artemis for about 60TL. We thought he was ripping us off, so we brushed him off. But later we found out that that was actually a deal because he would have waited for us at all three locations (and he threw in temple Artemis for free!). In any case, our actual taxi driver took us up the mountain ( great views) and we had to pay about 15 TL to enter the compound. The site is indeed flocked by many tourists, not many Turks. I think it was my first time in Turkey that I was surrounded by so many people other than Turks in one place ( and this was the last day I was in the country too- I was immediately flying out of Istanbul the next day). Once you pass the entry point where you pay the entry fee, you have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the actual house. Everything on this site is overpriced. You can find everything up here for cheaper down near the mini bazaar and stores near the train station. Since we got here early in the morning, the line to enter the house was considerably short. But the lines definitely get very vyer long in the middle and latter portions of the day. Essentially, inside it is just a shrine of Mother Mary, with some candles ,and that is it.No pictures at all inside. For the wait, it is quite small of course, but it is indeed a breathtaking moment of history and spiritual connection. The lines to get holy water is very long. Buying the containers from the stand is VERY EXPENSIVE ( and they try to squeeze your money out by saying the prices in everything BUT TL). So I just used my water bottle ( I know, not as clean and such), and we walked past the wishing wall. Then on the way down, we used the bathrooms ( very clean!) and then we left. All in all, a 30 minute trip. Worth it, but don't be surprised that the house is very small. A beautiful place. read more

My wife and I visited this place in 2005 . We were on a Mediterranean cruise and happened to land there. I never knew about this place but I am glad we visited this holy place. read more

The house of the virgin mary is a really interesting place to visit. You can tie your wishes on a wall outside her house. You are not allowed to take pictures in the house of the virgin mary. read more

This site is now a huge tourist attraction. Tons of tourist buses come here and it's pretty organized. Big line to get in to see a simple stone house with some antiquities inside. No photos allowed. No hats, and watch the tank tops and short shorts. Probably forbidden. Very pretty area with hills and loads of trees and shady areas. Hey, just because you're not part of a tour group does not mean that you get to take cuts in front of tour groups that are patiently waiting in line to get in. When you get out of the House, you'll get a chance to get some holy water from a tap in a stone retaining wall. Ignore the fact that when you get to the public toliets with a hilltop view of the countryside, you'll see the same kind of spigot and water pressure you saw at the House. There's also a stone retaining wall for tourists to insert written prayers. And you can light candles too. And of course, when you return to your tour bus, you run a gauntlet of tourist shops and vendors who will try to sell to you right up to your entry into your bus. Well, it's people like us who encourage them because we bought bracelets and Turkish Delights candy as we were boarding the bus. Sigh. read more

the evidence of the Virgin Mary living her last days here is tenuous at best, even according to the Catholic Church's doctrine. however, whether you believe it or not, it's an interesting place to visit. we visited here as part of a tour while on our cruise with the Norwegian Jade. the ride up is a bit tense as it's narrow, winding roads (then again, our tour bus was going at most 10 mph, so it was more a height issue than a speed issue). the house itself is a stone structure, with no photo/video of any kind allowed inside. the two rooms that you can see have a few seats for quiet prayer, some official paraphernalia from the Popes who have visited, and you're out. that's it, it's all of a 5-minute walk-through (which may feel like a bit of a let-down). however, the tranquility of the mountaintop forest can't be beat, and the wall of prayers and intentions is massive and inspiring. you can also take a candle to place outside in what look like fish tanks filled with sand (to hold candles in place). various blessed fountains from which you can drink from, or take holy water from. even for those who are not religious, the peace and tranquility offered here are worth the trek (and dealing with your fellow slow-moving humans). I would say it's worth to visit once in your life to say you did. read more