Best rated holiday points of interest in Ephesus? Archeologists mention that there is a possibility of an Apollon temple in the place where the mosque was built. It was common in the ancient times to built an Apollon temple next to Artemis temple since they are considered as twins. Apollo was the twin brother of Artemis, the god of prophecy. The mosque was built in 1375 (According to Christian Calendar). Selcuk is the modern name for Ephesus. A small agricultural town, having a population of 30.000 people. Every week on wednesdays and saturdays there is a farmers market in Selcuk town. You can enrich your private Ephesus Tour with a stop to this farners market where you can enjoy to see local fruits, vegetables, spices, dried fruits…. During the visit a walk through Selcuk town is worth doing. You would see the aquaducts from Roman times and storks (Between April – August). If you miss Selcuk market, there is a similar farmers market in Kusadasi which is held on Tuesdays and Fridays. Find additional details at Izmir To Ephesus Tour.
This citadel-like basilica once occupied the whole breadth of the hill it sits on and was ranked with the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now the Aya Sofya) as one of the Byzantine Empire’s largest churches. According to tradition, the grave of St. John is under the church. Originally, a mausoleum with a domed roof borne on four columns was built over the grave, but the Emperor Justinian replaced this simple monument with a three-aisled basilica on a Latin-cross plan boasting six domed roofs. Including the narthex at the western end and the arcaded courtyard, the basilica was 130 meters long and 40 meters wide. After the Seljuks captured Ephesus in 1130, the church was converted into a mosque and later served as a bazaar until it was finally destroyed by an earthquake. Although only partially restored, the basilica ruins that remain give a good idea of the awesome size of the original building.
Ayasuluk Fortress sits on the hill above the Basilica of St. John and is accessed by a trail that leads up from behind the basilica. This hilltop site has been settled since the Neolithic period, but the fortress dates from the Byzantine era, and the fortifications were extended by the Seljuks. The fortress area was closed for years due to archaeologists excavating the site, but it has now been opened to visitors. The mighty enclosure wall had 15 rectangular towers. Inside, there’s not much to see, except for a small Seljuk-era mosque, but the views over town and the surrounding countryside are wonderful from the hilltop, making a trip here well worth the uphill walk.
In my opinion, the best months to visit Ephesus are spring. Because you can also experience the lush nature of the city during these months. You can walk through this metropolis city by yourself. There is also the option of a guided walking tour to tour the city. This tour takes about 2 hours, and a fee of 12$ is paid at the entrance to the ancient city. The Library of Celsus has been ranked as the third biggest library in the Ancient World. The library was built by the Roman Empire in their golden times. Even if the certain completion year of the library is unknown, the most common date that has been told as A.C. 135. It is said that the library, named after Tiberius Celsus, a powerful Roman senator and a book lover, has 12-15 thousand scrolls of parchment. In the west wing of the library and under the ground floor there is Celsus’s tomb. Since it was not customary to be buried at the city border at that time, the burial of Celsus here is seen as a special honor.
Our professional tour guide will be waiting for you with a board your name written on, you will take your private vehicle (Brand-New VIP Mercedes) from your Hotel, Izmir or Kusadasi Cruise port and drive to Ephesus Ancient City. Also visit other highlight according to your preferences. Your guide will skip the line to buy tickets at the entrances of sites. Tour totally be planned according to your preferences and after tour you will be dropped port or anywhere you like to be dropped. Discover additional information at bestephesustours.com.
See the Pollio Fountain: According to the Latin and Greek inscriptions, this building was built as a “Mausoleum” for C. Sextilius Pollio by his stepson, in the area allocated by the city administration. Thus, the person who built the Basilica and Marnas Aqueducts and dedicated them to the emperor and the city was honored on behalf of the city. There is also a small pool inside. The water of this pool comes from the wall of the Agora. On the bench in the pool was the Polyphemos sculpture group, which is exhibited today in the Ephesus Museum.