Gateway to Ephesus — where the ancient world still breathes
Selçuk is the small Aegean town that sits beside Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Classical cities in the world. The ruins cover several square kilometres — the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Terrace Houses — and are walkable from town. The Basilica of St John marks the apostle's burial site on Ayasoluk Hill; the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is now a single pillar in a field. The town itself rewards a night: the camel wrestling festival in January, a small but excellent archaeological museum, and an easy Aegean coast vibe.
Ephesus was one of the great cities of the ancient world — at its peak under Rome, a city of 200,000, capital of the province of Asia, home to the Temple of Artemis (the largest building of the ancient world), and the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her final years. The Apostle Paul preached here; the Gospel of John was likely written here. The city declined after its harbour silted up and was abandoned in the 15th century. The Selçuk Fortress on Ayasoluk Hill was occupied by Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman rulers in succession.