The ancient city of Ephesus located close to Seljuk, a district of Izmir was established near to Küçük Menderes river during the Neolithic period.

As one of the most important 12 cities of the classical Greek period, Ephesus was a crucial religious center for both Paganism and Christianity. Today, it is still possible to see the relicss belonging to this period.

Thanks to its fertile lands and its position as a gateway of trade between East and West, Ephesus became one of the most important cities of antiquity and retained its value throughout the centuries.

Another factor that makes this site important is that the largest temple of Artemis is located in Ephesus. The cult of Artemis was a variation of the ancient cult of the Anatolian mother goddess Cybele.

Together with Milet, Ephesus was one of the two most important centers of science, art and culture. The ancient site was the birthplace of many prominent names such as the philosopher Heraclitus, the diviner Artemidorus, the poets Callinus and Hipponax, the grammarian Zenodotus, and the physicians Soranus and Rufus.

Part of the ancient city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 614 while the other part remained fairly well preserved until the present day. Just like Izmir, Ephesus is rather hot and dry in the summer and mild and rainy in the winter as typical of an area with a Mediterranean climate.

Ephesus is waiting for all travel enthusiasts who want to explore the cradle of civilization and its incomparable architecture!