In 250AD seven young Christians, having refused to denounce their Christian beliefs, were said to have hidden in a cave close to Ephesus to escape religious persecution by the Roman Emperor Decius. The young men went to the cave to pray and fell asleep prompting the Emperor to have the cave sealed. The men were […]
The small village of Sirince is located 8km outside of Ephesus and its red-roofed houses sloped gently down the hillside. Sirince is famous for its Greek style fruit wine and wine tasting in the village is a unique experience with an interesting range of fruits to choose from! The quaint little village is a popular […]
The ancient city of Ephesus boasted an advanced aqueduct system that supplied the city with water. The aqueduct is no longer intact, instead, standing as occasional archways which run through the centre of Selcuk. The aqueduct is now famous for the huge stork nests which adorn its top. The migrating storks return to Selcuk during […]
Located in the heart of Selcuk, the Isa Bey Mosque was constructed in the late 1300s and is based on the Great Mosque of Damascus. It is one of the finest examples of Seljukian architecture and is unique in that it was purposely built with an asymmetrical style. The mosque is now both a place […]
Alongside St John’s Basilica and the Isa Bey Mosque the Ayasuluk Fortress sits atop Ayasoluk Hill and dominates the skyline of Selcuk. The fortress was built to protect St John’s Basilica and the ruins represent Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. As well as the partially restored walls of the fortress there are remains of houses, […]
The house of the Virgin Mary is a pilgrimage site close to the ancient ruins of Ephesus and is considered to be the place where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, lived and died after being taken there by Saint John. The house is now a chapel and a side room is understood to have been […]
The Temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a title bestowed on only the most incredible ancient constructions. Dedicated to the goddess Artemis, only a single column stands tall among the fragments of ruins that remain from the once magnificent temple. Despite the sparsity of the ruins it is […]
The once magnificent 6th Century Basilica is now in ruins having suffered at the hands of attackers, succumbed to pillaging and withstood earthquakes but its significance remains great. The Apostle John travelled from Jerusalem to Ephesus and is said to have spent his remaining years there with his tomb located under the Basilica marked by […]
The Ephesus Archaeological Museum exhibits artefacts that were excavated from the nearby ancient city of Ephesus. The artefacts include jewellery, coins, funeral relics and incredible statues. The highlight is the statue of Artemis and a visit to the museum really brings both the ancient ruins and the artefacts to life. Things to do in Ephesus […]
Once luxurious residential villas, the terraced houses of Ephesus were known as the houses of the rich. The houses are presented as an indoor excavation site with a walkway leading visitors above the luxurious villas and their restoration is an ongoing project. The ruins of the house give an incredible glimpse of a privileged life […]