Such a historic site with the marble slab walkways and ancient ruins still standing. Close your…read moreeyes and you can imagine this beautiful place filled with the hustle and bustle of people walking down the streets. Ephesus is considered one of the greatest cities of the Western world and one of the 7 churches mentioned in the Holy Bible, thus an important part of Christian history. Highlights include the Theater carved into a hill, the Temple of Hadrian, The Gates of Hercules, The house of Mary and the impressive Library of Celsus. Our private guide walked us downhill which was a more impressive route than walking uphill like others were doing. The walkways can be slick in wet conditions, so take a walking stick to help. I don't think a trip to Turkey can be considered complete unless you come here to witness this amazing city formed back in 1000bc.

Ephesus is a historic landmark in Turkiye, founded around 600 BCE. Originally an ancient Greek…read morecity, it became under Roman rule in 129 BCE. Ephesus remained the most important city of the Byzantine Empire in Asia after Constantinople in the 5th and 6th centuries. Ephesus commanded the west end of a trade route to Asia so it was an important port city in its heyday. It boasted a Temple to Artemis, a Temple to Hadrian, a Library of Celsus, the massive Oedon Theatre, the last known home of the Virgin Mary, and some of the earliest Christian churches. Mark Antony was welcomed by Ephesus when he was proconsul and in 33 BC with Cleopatra when he gathered his fleet of 800 ships before the battle of Actium with Octavius. Ephesus is an ancient city with much historical significance. When we visited with our tour group, we were given a quick overview, entered the state-of-the-art museum, and explored the grounds. The site is massive. The ancient ruins are in fairly good condition considering and it is still an active archeological site. When you visit, marvel at the expansive stone lined streets of the agora, peer up at the arches, and wonder at how far humankind has come over the centuries.

Neat ruin site. Admission covered by museum Turkey pass. Not a ton of interpretive content on…read moresite so read background before visiting. Parking near site available. Not a destination but a nice stop if in Ephesus.

Another great place! So cool to visit where John, the beloved, was laid to rest. It's known he…read morereturned to Ephesus, after being exiled on Patmos, and that was where he passed away. So this is where his tomb is and in the 6th century, this large basilica was built over his tomb. However, earthquakes and the encroachment of the Turks resulted in the church being abandoned and relics lost. The original design of the church was laid out like a cross. Most of it is gone today, but you can still kind of see how it was set up. They have a replica of the grounds for Ephesus and the basilica so you can have an idea of what things looked like and how far apart they were. The renderings of the buildings are pretty cool. Such amazing history here!

Ephesus was the 4th largest city of the ancient Greco-Roman World with a population over 25,000+…read more The center piece of the city was the Library of Celsus which in 135 AD held 12,000-16,000 manuscripts and papyrus scrolls. These were kept mainly in niche openings in the double walled library. It was the third largest library at the time after The Library of Alexandria in Egypt (500,000 manuscripts and scrolls) and the Library of Pergamum. The library began construction by Gaius Aquila for his father Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaenus, who lies in a white marble sarcophagus under the library. The Library of Celsus was completed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD. As an archaeological site, Ephesus is spectacular featuring many Roman ruins including an amphitheater which held 25,000 people. The entrance fee is 40 Euros at the gate. You can also book individual or group tours in Selcuk, as well.

The valley is full of the archaeological remains of the historic city of Ephesus. Of all the…read morefascinating ruins, the restored facade of the Library of Celsus is arguably the most awe inspiring. Rising 2 stories high, the imposing columns and stately statues make it a tourist favorite and photo magnet. A beautifully ornate side wall of the neighboring building also survived to the present day. It had a couple of arches leading out to a forest of crumbling columns. We were able to walk up the marble steps of the library. The steps were worn down into deep concave depressions by the sandaled feet of long-gone people. But be careful, they're slippery. My dad was clowning around and playing Samson between two columns, when his feet slipped out from under him. He went bump, bump, bump down the steps. He wasn't really hurt, but he was sore, got a bruised tailbone and suffered a little embarrassment. Ephesus is like an outdoor museum where you can actually touch and walk among all the priceless artifacts of the ancient world. If you are limited with time, the library is a definite must see.

Yedi Uyurlar is the Cemetery of the Seven Sleepers, young men said to have slept ~200 years to…read moreavoid persecution of Christians while Christianity slowly became the norm of the Roman Empire. A church was built over the original caves and the ruins of both are what can be seen today. You can see some of the excavation site, but it's fenced off (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yedi-uyurlar-sel%C3%A7uk?select=9OMFNXtH6wWtIGeo2s1Yaw#j5JDKR_832bqeilcScxILQ) so you can't get too close. Most of my pictures are holding the camera above the fence or between bars (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yedi-uyurlar-sel%C3%A7uk?select=9OMFNXtH6wWtIGeo2s1Yaw#oMUnrDGubWM7E0NbODEmbQ). I would give a higher rating, if you could get closer. If you're short on time and trying to decide which places to visit, this was more worth a visit than the Virgin Mary's House, IMO, of course. And no admission fee!

The Temple of Hadrian is a temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian in the ancient city of Ephesus. It…read moreis just one the many amazing ruins that you can see while walking on Curetes Street. It was constructed in the beginning of the 2nd century AD to celebrate Hadrian's visit to Ephesus from Athens. This structure is more of a monument than a temple and was also dedicated to the goddess Artemis and the people of Ephesus. The facade has a curve arch with four Corinthian columns. Seeing the city of Ephesus was a highlight for me on my trip to Greece and Turkey. Walking through the marble streets of Ephesus to see these amazing ruins is something that I will never forget.

Dating from the second century and "repaired" in the fourth century, Hadrian's Temple is found…read morealong a main road in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus. Some of the original reliefs are located in the Ephesus Archeological Museum. The reliefs show emperor Theodosius I, his wife and eldest son. The temple has been featured on Turkish bank notes.

While on a tour of Ephesus, getting a chance to see the Library of Celsus in person was a highlight…read morefor me. The Library was built in 117 AD as a monumental tomb for the Roman Senator and military commander Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus (who is buried behind the library). The interior was destroyed years later. Today, all that remains is the library's impressive facade which was reconstructed in the 1970's. As you approach the Library of Celsus while walking down Curetes Street, you get a glimpse of its massive size compared to the other ruins. The Library once held over 12,000 scrolls and was a center of learning during ancient Roman times. While here, take some time to look at all of the architectural details, inscriptions and sculptures on the Library of Celsus. I even found an early symbol of Christianity carved on the steps. Just be careful while walking down the steps. I saw a guy take a tumble and fall down. The City of Ephesus is an amazing place to visit and I am glad I got a chance to come here.

The facade of the Library of Celsus is a beautiful reconstructed ruin from the Roman Empire. It was…read morethe third largest library in the ancient world and held over 12,000 scrolls. It was built as a mausoleum to honor the Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus by his son in 117 AD. It is a really beautiful landmark in Ephesus at the base of Curetes Street. Decorated with marble statues, Corinthian style columns, and ornate carvings and ceilings, it was restored with the help of the Austrian Archeological Institute in the 1970s. The four statues in the niches represent the four virtues of Celsus--wisdom (Sophia), knowledge (Episteme), intelligence (Ennoia) and valor (Arete). There is a menorah carved into the floor behind one of the sets of columns. The Celsus Library was featured on several Turkish lira banknotes. An amazing landmark in Ephesus.