Ephesus
A whole marble street, with the city still standing on both sides.
- Builta Greek and Roman city; the library dates from AD 117
- Districtİzmir
Ephesus was a port until the river silted up and left the city five kilometres from the sea. That is why it is so complete: once it stopped being useful, nobody pulled it down to build something else on top.
The Library of Celsus is the façade everyone knows, but the theatre is what impresses close up — twenty-five thousand seats, acoustics intact. The Terrace Houses are ticketed separately and show the inside of the wealthy houses, mosaics still in place.
There is very little shade. Early morning or late afternoon, in summer, is not a preference.
What to look for
- The Library of Celsus, which is a tomb with a library’s face: Celsus is buried beneath it.
- The Terrace Houses, ticketed separately — mosaics and wall painting in the rooms they were made for, under a modern roof.
- The great theatre, built for twenty-five thousand, with the acoustics still working from the stage.
- The public latrines off the main street: a row of marble seats with no partitions. It was a place to talk.
Before you go
- There is very little shade. Early morning or late afternoon, in summer, is not a preference.
- Go in by the upper gate and out by the lower one: the route is downhill throughout instead of two climbs.
- The Terrace Houses are sold separately and are worth it. Buy that ticket at the gate, not inside.
- Two to three hours. Take water; inside, it is only sold at the entrance.
